Domaine Aux Moines Le Berceau Des Fees
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Domaine aux Moines is located in Anjou, in the Loire valley. Since 1981, Monique Laroche and her daughter Tessa, make elegant wines. Their wines have a solid notoriety. They will both enjoy welcoming you to the Domaine, on reservation only, for you to discover them! Monique Laroche has been fully involved for more than 30 years, for ROCHE AUX MOINES to be a wine where chenin and terroir express themselves. Tessa, when coming to work at the Domaine, brought with her improvement to keep maintaining vineyard while taking care of the environnement. The Domaine has initiated organics in 2006. Tessa is now moving towards biodynamic agriculture. The estate was founded in 1981, though there are records of vineyards planted in the region since the middle ages when the monks (โmoinesโ in French) from the Abbaye de St Nicolas tended vines in the area. It was founded by the Madame Monique Laroche, a true force of nature, and is now run by her energetic daughter Tessa Laroche. The estate comprises 12 hectares of Chenin Blanc planted on south and southwest facing hillsides that abut the famed Coulee de Serrant in the Savennieres sub-appellation of "Roche Aux Moines". Savennieres is located on the Western edge of the Anjou region in the Loire valley, not far from the city of Angers. The vineyards sit on hillsides overlooking the Loire river. The proximity to the river helps to temper the cold of the region as well as encourage ripeness and protect against springtime frosts. The soils in Savennieres are predominantly schists with some sandstone and clay. They tend to produce a flinty, drier style Chenin Blanc that can age for a a long time. Both mother and daughter have always taken a natural approach in their vineyard work and cellar practices. Through the diligent efforts and meticulous work of Tessa and her team, the domaine earned organic certification by Eco-cert in 2011. Yields are kept extremely low, which by law in "Roche Aux Moines" means under 30 h/h, and often less. All work is done by hand including the harvest which occurs slowly over a few weeks (5-6 โtriesโ or pickings). The wines are all fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in a combination of tank and cask (220 and 400-liter, mostly used), with usually 65-75% tank and the rest wood. Bottling is done around 15-16 months after harvest, though the winery stocks an old vintage or two for all of our benefit. With the addition of the succulent and electric Le Berceau des Fees cuvee to the domaine's full lineup of wines, Tessa Laroche has established Domaine Aux Moines as one of the most exciting organic Chenin Blanc estates in the region. We are so pleased to be along for the ride!