Michel Chevré : Les Pentes du Clos de l'Ecotard 2016

Characteristics and tasting tips for Les Pentes du Clos de l'Écotard 2016 by Michel Chevré

Tasting

Appearance

With a luminous straw-yellow hue, this wine reveals silvery green highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils a bouquet of intense citrus fruits, dominated by lemon, grapefruit and lime. White floral notes complete this refined aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack is lively and sharp, driven by a remarkable acidic tension. The palate expresses a crystalline minerality and an impressive salinity that reach their peak on the finish. Despite this chiseled profile, the wine offers a surprising roundness and substance that balance the whole. The incisive, saline finish lingers at length.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with seafood and grilled fish. It is an ideal match for pan-seared scallops, shrimp or a fillet of pike-perch with beurre blanc. Pressed cheeses such as Comté or Emmental also make excellent pairings, as do roasted root vegetable preparations.

A Chenin Blanc from Saumur with crystalline minerality and vibrant tension

The estate

Founded in 2007 by Michel Chevré in Courchamps in the Maine-et-Loire, the estate now spans approximately 15 hectares. A former vineyard manager at Domaine des Roches Neuves alongside Thierry Germain, Michel Chevré developed remarkable expertise in organic and biodynamic viticulture. The estate has been certified organic since 2013. Today, his son Thibaud has gradually joined the family venture and plays an increasingly prominent role in managing the estate. The property has established itself as one of the finest young producers in the Loire, recognized for wines marked by great precision and an ability to reveal the nuances of the terroir.

The vineyard

The Les Pentes vines are planted on a beautiful south-facing white limestone hillside in Courchamps, within the Saumur appellation. The soils are characterized by highly active limestone that outcrops extensively on this slope. This distinctive geology gives the wine its signature minerality and pronounced salinity. The vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically, with exclusively manual harvesting to ensure rigorous grape selection.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of Les Pentes du Clos de l'Écotard 2016 takes place in 25-hectoliter round tanks. Unlike other cuvées from the estate, this wine is aged without any contact with oak, thus preserving the purity of its mineral expression. Extended aging on fine lees encourages a progressive organic richness while maintaining the wine's aromatic freshness.

Grape variety

Chenin Blanc