Clos de l'Ecotard is a small family estate located in the heart of the Loire Valley in France. The story of the producer begins in 2012 at La Dive Bouteille, where the team met Thierry Germain and his vineyard lieutenant, Michel Chevré. Despite their contrasting personalities, the two shared a passion for winemaking. It was Chevré who led the tasting that day and introduced the team to the first bottling from the Clos de l'Ecotard vineyard. This striking organic Saumur Blanc would continue to be made at Roches Neuves until 2016.
In 2017, Chevré and his son Thibaud established their own three-hectare Domaine, offering their first three cuvées of Saumur Blanc. The iconic Clos de l'Ecotard, covering two hectares, remains the family's emblematic cuvée. The vineyard work here is impeccable, with all vineyards certified organic and managed biodynamically. The Clos is ploughed by the Domaine's own draft horse, Fleur, and natural grass growth is encouraged. Yields are limited to ensure the highest quality grapes for their wines.
The winemaking at Clos de l'Ecotard follows the philosophy of "the less work I do, the happier I am". The grapes are whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast. The wines are then aged in a mixture of oak foudres and used barrels, with some new barrels added each year to increase complexity. The result is a range of cool, ripe, and textural Saumur Blanc wines that showcase the powerful expression of the Courchamps terroir. These wines are a testament to the dedication and low-fi, artisanal approach of the Chevré family.
