Domaine de l’Ecu
Pays Nantais
For those who seek authentic, delicious, yet ceaselessly original wines, there are few more important producers in the Loire valley than Domaine de l’Ecu. One of a mere handful of iconic producers in the Muscadet zone, the vines here have been organically farmed for longer than most of us have been alive and biodynamically farmed for decades. Even as the estate’s torch has been passed, the wines speak unmistakably of their place. Fred and Claire Niger, who worked these 20 hectares alongside the famed Guy Bossard, have an insistent humility–a passion that they believe this place and this work demands of them. This translates to an unwavering commitment to both the specific terroirs of l’Ecu–the geologically distinct gneiss, orthogneiss, and granite soils–and a pathos of respectful, collaborative, yet uninhibited winemaking.
Since taking the reins, Fred and Claire have expanded the tone and tenor of l’Ecu, adding collaborative voices to their winemaking projects while remaining true to the vision that Guy put into place years earlier. To wit: extended lees aging for Melon de Bourgogne is axiomatic, but buoyed by a deep connection to the earth, most wine is now aged in an armada of clay jars. And rather than making a sparkling wine, they now vinify single plots of red grapes using low- to no-sulfur, including the ethereal and rare Mephisto. Collaborating with fellow growers, they have been replanting vineyards with top-level vine material to grapes–Pinot d’Aunis, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and more–that express the terroir and personality of l’Ecu in new ways. Finally, their passion for wine exceeds the bounds of the estate itself, bringing them into the orbit of like minded winegrowers who sell them biodynamically farmed fruit from which they make authentic, soulful wines under the moniker “Love & Grapes.”
Each of these new steps may seem surprising, even radical. Yet, a wider perspective reminds that Fred and Claire’s efforts are done in keeping with the best traditions of classical wine: authenticity (in plantings and vinification), connectivity (with the vines and the ecosystem that surrounds them), and humanity (a respect for the work done by others before, as well as to those who come after). The wines of l’Ecu remain important because they embody a deep respect of what nature gives each year. Indeed, though so often referenced via the ideological markers of the wine lexicon, few domaines remain so unencumbered by them. Instead, the wines of l’Ecu continue to chart a path forward while remaining connected to their place in the world.
Wines:
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Classic” Vin de France (Melon de Bourgogne)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Orthogneiss” Vin de France (Melon de Bourgogne)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Granite” Vin de France (Melon de Bourgogne)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Mephisto” Vin de France (Cabernet Franc)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Trinity” Vin de France (Grenache/Cinsault)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Nobis” Vin de France (Syrah)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Sole” Vin de France (Chenin Blanc)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Veritas” Vin de France (Pinot Noir)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Ange” Vin de France (Pinot Noir)
● Domaine de l’Ecu “Alaya” Vin de France (Pinot d’Aunis)
