Domaine Bobinet

The domain

Born in Saumur in 2002, the domaine initially covered 1.8 hectares of uncultivated vines. It was taken over by Sébastien Bobinet from his retired grandparents, and he decided to develop organic farming. He cultivates 1.5 hectares of Cabernet Franc and 0.3 hectares of Chenin. In 2010, he acquires a further 2 hectares of Cabernet Franc on a tenant basis. He also buys Pineau d'Aunis, Gamay and Côt grapes.

Each cuvée is made from a blend of plots or from a single plot. All wines are aged in "old" barrels, except Piak! which is aged in vats.

Commitments

The wine-making process is entirely manual and natural. The grapes are harvested by hand in small crates so as not to crush them, and pressed with a traditional hand press.

During fermentation, only indigenous yeasts are used (yeasts initially present on the grapes).

During the winemaking process, sulfites should ideally not be used at all, even if several crucial stages require the addition of sulfur. So, if the wine presents a risk, the estate allows itself to integrate a low dose.

Terroir

Located just outside Saumur, in the hamlet of Beaulieu, the vines are a stone's throw from the winery on the Beaulieu hillside. The vineyards of Saumur are mainly composed of a soft, white limestone rock: tuffeau. The particularity of tuffeau is that it releases water reserves to the vine roots, which are able to draw from deep within the soil due to the softness of the rock.

In addition to topography, the climate and cultural practices of a vineyard are equally important in shaping the identity of a terroir. The landscape of the Saumur region is marked by the presence of the Loire, which can be seen from the hillside plots. The region is very green, with many copses and forests. The vineyards are not simply a sea of impersonal vines: a rich and diverse ecosystem is carefully nurtured.

Finally, the terroir's characteristic climate is temperate and oceanic, sunny with little rainfall.

The wines

Amateüs Bobi is the estate's historic cuvée, 100% Cabernet Franc. It's a wine structured by fine, velvety tannins, with an explosive nose and rich complexity. It strikes a perfect balance between structure and minerality. The palate is taut, even saline, with complex aromas of red fruit and undergrowth. It should be drunk within 15 years.

Les Landes is a fairly young cuvée, born in 2014 and producing a silky, dense and complex wine with explosive generosity. Composed of 100% Cabernet Franc, it develops fine, velvety tannins that give spicy, dark berry-dominated aromas, offering great energy on the palate.