Clos Durandière - Étienne Bodet - Clarum des Vaudelles 2024
Étienne Bodet is part of a new generation of Loire Valley winemakers who seek to reveal specific terroirs rather than produce standardized wines. Based in Montreuil-Bellay, in the Saumur region, he develops Clos de la Durandière around family plots and named places he considers unique. An oenologist by training, he approaches wine with a dual sensitivity, both technical and intuitive, paying particular attention to soil reading. The estate became known for its work on Cabernet Franc, the main grape variety of Saumur, which he interprets in varied styles depending on the vineyards and vinifications. Alongside Clos Durandière, Clos des Vaudelles appears as another important terroir in Étienne Bodet's universe. Specialized sources mention viticulture conducted according to organic farming principles, with some biodynamic practices, without clear certification established to date. Clarum des Vaudelles 2024 reflects this desire to create a free, bright, and serious wine, situated between the brightness of a clairet and the depth of a terroir red.
The Clarum des Vaudelles 2024 cuvée comes from old Cabernet Franc vines planted in 1972 at Clos des Vaudelles, in the commune of Montreuil-Bellay. The terroir rests on marls covered with clays, sometimes described as gray marls or marly limestones, which bring a stony tension and real mouth density to the wine. This soil profile distinguishes the cuvée from the more classic expressions of Saumur, often associated with tuffeau, and gives the Cabernet Franc a dimension that is floral, savory, and structured. Étienne Bodet chooses here a short maceration of about 72 hours, placing Clarum in the spirit of a clairet, deeper than a rosé but airier than a traditional red. Barrel aging, indicated around ten to twelve months depending on sources, accompanies the wine without trying to harden it or mask its fruit. The 2024 vintage, fresher and more moderate than very sunny years, favors a slender, aromatic, and digestible expression of Cabernet Franc. Clarum des Vaudelles 2024 thus stands out for its unique color, delicate texture, and ability to combine immediate pleasure and terroir precision.
On tasting, Clos Durandière Étienne Bodet Clarum des Vaudelles 2024 offers an original profile, between a light gastronomic red and a very fine clairet. The nose evokes fresh raspberry, redcurrant, light cherry, violet, and a slightly spicy touch. Aeration may reveal more mineral, almost stony nuances, as well as a discreet toasted note linked to aging. On the palate, the wine is ample without heaviness, with juicy matter, clear acidity, and very fine tannins. Its saline and thirst-quenching finish gives it a true personality, far from a simple quaffing wine, with a depth that recalls the marly origin of Clos des Vaudelles. This Cabernet Franc will pair very well with fine charcuterie, country terrine, roast chicken, veal chop, grilled vegetables, seared tuna, or summer cuisine around tomato and herbs. It can be drunk young for its aromatic brightness, ideally slightly chilled, while retaining enough structure to evolve over a few years.
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
