The Vines

Les Treilles

at Beaulieu sur Layon, 2 ha 70.

Southern exposure, Coteau des Treilles is situated in Beaulieu sur Layon. As the steepness of the slopes range between 30 and 70% the vineyard was abandoned after the war due to the introduction of mechanism and being too difficult to farm.

It took 3 years for Jo and Isabelle to purchase the 70 different plots from 25 different owners for a total surface of 7 hectares of which 5 hectares is plantable. In 2000, with the help of 2 of their American friends, they started cultivating Les Treilles and provisionally finished in 2006. Les Treilles is planted with the varietal Chenin.

The vines succeeded with the southern exposure but they were not alone. This area, very rich with fauna and flora is classed as a protected site with ‘Reserve naturelle régionale des Coteaux du Pont Barré’. Les Treilles is managed by LPO Anjou and we work in unity with organic practices for our collaboration on nature and for the butterflies….

For more information on this organisation (in french) : http://www.lpo-anjou.org/action/pontbarre/pontbarre.htm

Fauna and Flora

Studies that were conducted, in particular, by botanist, Robert Carillon, show that Les Treilles has a micro climate similar to the Mediterranean climate. And on Les Treilles, they found fauna and flora very rare to the area. They discovered a very beautiful blue butterfly; Lysandra bellargus. We have named one of our vintages after this butterfly.

For more information:

Lysandra Bellargus

La Fresnaye

at St Aubin de Luigné. 2 ha 20.

La Fresnaye à St Aubin de Luigné. 2 ha 20.

Not far from château La Fresnaye, there is a plot called Clos des Bois which Jo and Isabelle used to create a Coteaux du Layon – (generally referring to sweet wine)

• 1.50 hectares of Chenin were planted in 1987 and 1989.
• 0.70 hectares of Cabernet Franc planted in 1969.

The soil consists mainly of gravel and pebbles.

Taille du Chenin au Clos des Bois

une poignée de sarments

Harvest time at Clos des Bois at St Aubin de Luigné

Le Clos Pirou

at Savennières. 0 ha 25

On top of the area called “La Roche aux Moines”, this plot was planted in 1990 and in 2006. The soil consists of slate with sandy parts on the surface. These grapes are blended with other grapes from Savennières.

Recently purchased vineyards in 2009, Les Bonnes Blanches and Quarts des Chaumes.