Domaine du Closel 'Les Caillardieres' Savennieres 2020

Château des Vaults in Savennières dates back to 1495, and was inherited by Michèle de Jessey in 1962 from her childless aunt Madame du Closel. Michèle and Jacques de Jessey turned the small family estate into Domaine du Closel. The entire vineyard is located on the most western hill of Savennières and includes some of the best parcels in the AOC: Les Caillardières and Clos du Papillon. The topsoil is shallow, very warm and consists of purple/green schist and sandstone enriched with volcanic rocks (quartz, phtanites, ryolites and spilites) in the best areas.

Evelyne de Pontbriand, Michèle and Jacques' daughter, took over the estate in 2001 after a first career of teaching French literature to adults all over the world. As a lover of botanics and nature, she quickly adopted organic viticulture, which continues to be an experimental learning process. She is constantly searching for cultural practices best adapted to the austere terroirs of Savennières and has deeply changed vinification practices in the cellar. Vinification is done very naturally and with indigenous yeasts; sulfites are only added in tiny doses when needed. The wines are raised on lees from 12 to 26 months. The rhythm of fermentation is always respected.

"Les Caillardières is a sinewy, firm and spicy wine. Pure, dry, clean and terroir-driven, the 35-year-old vines on schist and sand give drive and an attractive bitterness and grip, making this almost red wine-like on the conclusion. With yields of just 20hL/ha and partial fermentation in large barrels, you should expect concentrated fruit flavors of apple, spice and smoky nuts, but this is a wine whose quality is in its texture rather than its aromatics."