Wines

From Mathieu Tijou comes this dry sparkling wine that has the same ebullient, forthright charm as the man. It is built on Chenin Blanc (60%) with Chardonnay (35%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%) from the domaine’s Anjou vineyards in Beaulieu-sur-Layon. Crisp and mineral with the natural rich “earthiness” of the Chenin, this wine benefits from lees ageing exceeding three years, comparable to those from the Champagne region.

The vineyards lie hard on the banks of the Loire River and are frequently covered in an early morning mist. The soil is almost exclusively composed of schist which renders a classic Savennieres: rigorous, bone-dry, with an intense minerality to the finish. The grapes are harvested manually and then are fermented in barrel using only indigenous yeasts. The élevage is also in barrel, none of which are new. The wine never undergoes the malolactic fermentation. Bottling occurs 12 months after the harvest. Approximately 4,200 bottles are reserved for our use in the USA.

This lively and dry Rosé is vinified from Cabernet Franc with a touch of Grolleau. The grapes are harvested manually and the vinification is via the direct press method. The wine is fermented and aged in cuve and then bottled in late winter/early spring.