Loire – Anjou

Three rivers define the Anjou – the Loire, Layon and Aubance, the latter two snaking their way through the coteaux (hills) to join the first just west of Angers. While Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Grolleau Noir (and sometimes Gris), Pineau d’Aunis are all widely planted on the Paleozoic schist which dominates the landscape, Chenin Blanc is the undisputed queen of the Anjou, producing long-lived, majestic whites along the slopes carved out by the three rivers.

We work with three of the best growers in Savennières (north of the river Loire): Nicolas and Virginie Joly, owners of Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Damien Laureau, who we think can lay claim to some of the best-farmed land in the Loire Valley, and Evelyne de Pontbriand, custodian of the Château des Vaults (previously and better known as Domaine du Closel). We have an equally exciting producer south of the river: the young, energetic Thomas Carsin (of Clos de l’Èlu), working with lesser-known varieties on top of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.