Michel has worked alongside Thierry Germain at Roches Neuves for many years developing Theirry’s unique farming methods and applying biodynamic practices in all their vineyards.
As Clos de l’Ecotard was a very small production, Theirry offered to market the wines with Roches Neuves wines. Recently Michel’s son Thibault has joined his father at Clos de l’Ecotard and now with increased production and cuvées, Michel and Thibault decided the time was good to separate from Roches Neuves and to take control of sales and marketing.
The estate of Clos de l’Ecotard is composed of three distinct parcels all planted to Chenin Blanc.
Le Clos de l’Ecotard
First planted ½ hectare in 2009, another ½ hectare in 2010, and finally 1 hectare in 2003. Tis parcel is on limestone and clay soil.
The vineyard is planted at 8000 vines per hectare. (high density for Saumur Blanc, which is usally around 5000 vines per hectare.
Plowing is done with horses 3 or 4 times a year.
La Hale Nardin
The vineyard is .70 hectare, approximately 50 years old, in Courchapms about 2km from Clos de l’Ecotard. Planted at 5000 vines per hectare on a clay and sand soil with limestone subsoil. Michel got this parcel in 1996.
(No Name)
This parcel is .30 hectare. Also 50 years old located in Saumur. This parcel is used to be making a sparkling wine which will be in the market in 2021. Michel also got this parcel in 1996.
Winemaking
All the harvest is made by hand, with direct pressing, double settling by cold soaking before the fermentation starts. (for all the cuvées)
La Hail Nardin 2018
Fermentation starts in tank, at half fermentation, we take portion of the volume and put it in a Foudre of 25 hl from the legendary Austrian Cooperage Stockinger, where it will finished the fermentation and ageing on the lies to middle of March. ( same for the tank ) Then we are make the blend with the tank and the foudre and bottling middle of April.
Clos de l'Ecotard 2018
Fermentation starts in tank, at the half fermentation we are putting the wine in barrels in the cellar until the end of fermentation. Then we keep the wine at same temperature and on lies to the end of July, blending and bottling beginning of September.
Clos de l'Ecotard Les Pentes 2017
The top parcel of Clos de l’Ecotard, planted directly in limestone. The parcel matures 2 to 3 weeks before the rest of the vineyard. Fermented 100% in Foudre of 25 hl from the legendary Austrian Cooperage Stockinger, and ages to end of July. Then we are racking, cleaning the foudre and put the wine back in the foudre until bottling (beginning of September).
