Clos Durandière - Étienne Bodet 2022
Clos de la Durandière was born from Étienne Bodet's desire to highlight certain unique terroirs of Montreuil-Bellay, in the Saumur region, in the heart of the Loire Valley. A trained oenologist, Étienne Bodet belongs to a winemaking family established for several generations and chose to develop his own estate around plots he considers particularly expressive. The adventure took shape in 2020, when he took over a few hectares from the family heritage, with the ambition to produce precise, deep wines faithful to their origin. The vineyard is distinguished by an atypical geology for Saumur, far from the usual classic tuffeau limestone often associated with the region. Here, the Jurassic limestones, older and harder, offer Cabernet Franc a very particular setting, capable of producing wines that are both structured, fine, and long mineral. The vineyard work follows a demanding organic approach, with a biodynamic sensitivity mentioned by several specialized sources. Clos Durandière 2022 thus expresses an artisanal and ambitious vision of Saumur red, carried by a young estate already closely followed by lovers of great Loire wines.
The Clos Durandière 2022 cuvée comes from a Cabernet Franc vineyard planted in 1983, in the commune of Montreuil-Bellay, in the Saumur appellation. The terroir rests on a rare Jurassic limestone in this area, often described as Bathonian, associated with shallow soils where sand, clay, and iron oxides can mix. This limestone base gives the wine a straight architecture, deep freshness, and a texture that is more taut than massive. The grapes are carefully harvested, then vinified with minimal intervention to preserve the purity of the fruit and the expression of the place. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, while the long maceration allows gradual extraction of structure without hardening the tannins. Available information mentions a variable proportion of whole cluster depending on sources, as well as prolonged aging in old containers, intended to accompany the wine's depth without imposing a woody mark. The sunny 2022 vintage in the Loire gives here a dense and ripe Cabernet Franc, but held by the limestone energy of the terroir.
On tasting, Clos Durandière 2022 by Étienne Bodet offers a Cabernet Franc profile that is both intense, elegant, and deeply Loire-like. The nose evokes fresh black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, dark cherry, with floral, smoky, chalky, and slightly spicy nuances. Aeration may reveal a touch of graphite, a sensation of warm stone, and a noble vegetal note, more linked to the freshness of the grape variety than to a lack of maturity. On the palate, the wine is structured yet fine, with tight tannins, a slender body, and acidity that extends the balance. The limestone minerality gives an impression of depth and verticality, while the fruit retains beautiful energy despite the vintage's ripeness. The finish is long, fresh, and persistent, with a slightly smoky dimension that reinforces its character as a great Saumur red. This wine will ideally accompany a veal chop, a rack of lamb, roast duck, a grilled beef cut, mushrooms, Loire cuisine around rillons, or aged firm cheeses.
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
