Domaine du Closel (Savennieres)

Savennières is a village and it is the name of a small appellation among the Loire Valley wines , with altogether 130/140 hectares of vineyards planted 100% in chenin blanc grape variety , on the plateau . Savennières is a tiny area but a major white wine appellation . This village is located south west of Angers on the north bank (right bank) of the Loire , on the slopes to the river bed . The loire in a far away past had a much larger bed and the slopes along it show the geological imprint of it . We ring the bell at the massive door to the Domaine du Closel, also named Chateau des Vaults (vaults are small valleys , like the ones in the river bed) . This is a nice structure dating partly from the 17 th century with aisles on both sides added in the 19 th century . Mrs Bazin de Jessey receives us . She first shows us the surroundings , the grounds . She tells about the "entre cour et jardin" feeling that she has in the place : The feeling on the cour side (where we enter) of a city mansion like people in the past had in downtown Angers , and the feeling on the jardin side , where space is open and goes down to a Loire riverlet wich is mostly dry in summer , but fills up the other seasons (7 meters level increase) and that was used in the past to bring wine as far as Nantes and Saint Nazaire . The place is known to make wine (according to old papers here) since the middle ages . It was called at the time " le Fief des Vaults " .It is now "Domaine du Closel" , in honour of Bernard du Closel who was mayor of Savennières between 1919 and 1956 , including in the hard times of the german occupation . The Domaine has vineyards on 17 hectares , 13 of wich are in the Savennières appellation . A small path leads us from the chateau grounds to the vineyard . The soil shows its schistic nature , especially in the end of the plateau , where the ground is covered with big schist stones .

She tells us concerts are held here in the chateau in summer . We now go to the tasting room:
__1__ Anjou red 2000 . Fruity . Light .Red fruits . Mrs de Jessey says she likes using the Vaslin Bucher vats wich are made with 1 cm thick resin and protect against the thermal shocks .
__2__ Anjou Villages 2001 . Red .11,5 ° . 11,2 Euro . more tannic . good at ambiant temperature . Nose : Red fruits . Some peony , leather . Made with cabernet franc and a little of cabernet sauvignon .
__3__ Savennières Domaine du Closel Jalousie 2001 . Thin . Elegant . Mineral notes .Some lemon . 12,5° . 13,3 Euro .
__4__ Savennières Domaine du Closel "Clos du Papillon" 2001 . 13,5° . Superb . 18,9 Euro . Mrs de Jessey tells us harvest is late october till november 11 , wich doesn't mean they look for noble rot , just that chenin blanc and the region lead to harvest this late .
__5__ Savennières Domaine du Closel "Les Coteaux" 2001 . 13,5° . 18,9 Euro . Very very good wine . 14 g residual sugar .
__6__ Savennières Domaine du Closel "La Jalousie" 2002 . 14° . Mrs de Jessey says at the Domaine , some wood is used , but mostly with Cuvèe Papillon . Old casks bought in Burgundy .
__7__ Savennières Domaine du Closel "Papillon" 2002 . 14,5° . 19,2 Euro .
__8__ Savennières Domaine du Closel Moelleux " Les Coteaux" . 14,5° . 19,2 Euro .
The wines are sold to wine stores, restaurants (Ladurée in Paris) , traiteurs (Potel & Chabot ) , and customers in the Loire region .
Address is :Domaine du Closel 49170 Savennières . Ph: 0033 (0)2 41 72 81 00 . [email protected]

Comments

[Harvin Hugues]

it's an outstanding wine with a majestic environnement.

[David E. Rowe]

I have always sought out Baumard's true specials but in my opionion Domains du Closel is every bit as good. Recently opened my first bottle of the 2007 vintage.
A Marvellous Savennieres. A special nectar. Mrs.de Jessey has a winner!

[Slawomir]

We had a most amazing guided tour with the guide Mr. Andy Thomson aroud the park, vineyard with degustation of the whole range of wines. I honestly admit these wines were the best I have ever tasted. I highly recomend a visit to this charming place.