Éric Chevalier
Éric
Chevalier is a rising star in the Nantais of the Loire Valley. For ten years,
he sourced fruit for a large négociant in
the Touraine. In 2005, he decided
to return to his hometown of Saint-Philbert de Grandlieu, just southwest of
Nantes, and ended up taking over the family domaine, Domaine de l’Aujardière,
the next year. His father, a talented vigneron
who did not bottle much of his wines and was well-known as a high-quality
source of bulk wine, had stopped working the vineyards and the vines were
either going to have to be pulled up and replanted, or sold. Éric was anything but enthusiastic.
Little by little his passion grew, and today he is proud to be the fourth
generation to farm the domaine. He is also proud to be bottling more and more
of the family’s production himself. Éric sustainably farms twenty-five hectares
of vines, producing wines of great character and finesse. He found his future
in his family’s past.
The
Nantais is a maritime climate, and the vineyards are not far from the Atlantic
Ocean. Consequently, there is an interesting variety of sedimentary, igneous,
and metamorphic rocks, as this area once was ocean floor. Of the twenty-five
hectares he farms, a large percentage of his production is dedicated to the
production of Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu, mostly from old
vines in the superb lieu-dit of La Butte). The soils here are comprised
primarily of serpentinite and quartz, with the exception of his ancient granite
parcel known as La Noë. The other half
of his crop (Chardonnay, Fié Gris, and Pinot Noir, among others) goes towards
the production of Vin de Pays du Val du Loire, and the soils are rich in
granite, sand, and silt. Of these “country” wines, the most notable is Éric’s
Fié Gris. This grape, pulled out of vineyards for many years to be replaced with the more profitable Sauvignon Blanc, is indigenous to the Loire. Also known as
Sauvignon Rose or Sauvignon Gris, Éric’s vines are one of the few remaining
strongholds of this elegant and luscious varietal. It makes an impression, with
almost an Alsatian exoticism.

Éric Chevalier is a rising star in the Nantais of the Loire Valley. For ten years, he sourced fruit for a large négociant in the Touraine. In 2005, he decided to return to his hometown of Saint-Philbert de Grandlieu, just southwest of Nantes, and ended up taking over the family domaine, Domaine de l’Aujardière, the next year. His father, a talented vigneron who did not bottle much of his wines and was well-known as a high-quality source of bulk wine, had stopped working the vineyards and the vines were either going to have to be pulled up and replanted, or sold. Éric was anything but enthusiastic. Little by little his passion grew, and today he is proud to be the fourth generation to farm the domaine. He is also proud to be bottling more and more of the family’s production himself. Éric sustainably farms twenty-five hectares of vines, producing wines of great character and finesse. He found his future in his family’s past.
The Nantais is a maritime climate, and the vineyards are not far from the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, there is an interesting variety of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, as this area once was ocean floor. Of the twenty-five hectares he farms, a large percentage of his production is dedicated to the production of Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu, mostly from old vines in the superb lieu-dit of La Butte). The soils here are comprised primarily of serpentinite and quartz, with the exception of his ancient granite parcel known as La Noë. The other half of his crop (Chardonnay, Fié Gris, and Pinot Noir, among others) goes towards the production of Vin de Pays du Val du Loire, and the soils are rich in granite, sand, and silt. Of these “country” wines, the most notable is Éric’s Fié Gris. This grape, pulled out of vineyards for many years to be replaced with the more profitable Sauvignon Blanc, is indigenous to the Loire. Also known as Sauvignon Rose or Sauvignon Gris, Éric’s vines are one of the few remaining strongholds of this elegant and luscious varietal. It makes an impression, with almost an Alsatian exoticism.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bon Plan Gros Plant (AOC Gros Plant du Pays Nantais) |
Folle Blanche | 35 - 40 years | Serpentinite, eclogite, quartz, Granite | 2.3 ha |
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Chardonnay |
Chardonnay | 10 - 15 years | Serpentinite, eclogite, quartz | 3 ha |
Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu Sur Lie Le Clos de la Butte |
Melon de Bourgogne | 50 years | Serpentinite, eclogite, quartz | 6 ha |
Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu Sur Lie La Noë |
Melon de Bourgogne | 20 - 60 years | Granite | 4 ha |
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Blanc Fié Gris |
Sauvignon Gris | 20 years | Gravel, silt/sand | 2.5 ha |
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Rosé Pinot Noir |
Pinot Noir | 15 years | Metamorphic rock | 2.5 ha |
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Cabernet Franc |
Cabernet Franc | 15 years | Metamorphic rock | 1.5 ha |
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire Pinot Noir |
Pinot Noir | 15 years | Metamorphic rock | 3 ha |
Val de Loire Rosé “Grolleau” |
Grolleau | 20 years average | Metamorphic rock | 0.6 ha |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• Juice is transferred underground into glass-lined cuves
• Natural fermentation by indigenous yeasts
• Wines age on the lees for 8-10 months, and lees are stirred regularly
• Wines are never racked or filtered
• Bon Plan Gros Plant ferments in underground glass tanks and ages for 18 months on fine lees
• Pinot Noir rosé is made by 85% direct press and 15% saignée
• Vineyards to be certified organic in 2020
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Loire
- Appellation(s)
- Vin de Pays du Val de Loire, Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu
- Producer
- Éric Chevalier
- Founded
- four generations old
- Annual Production
- 22,000 cases
- Farming
- Organic (practicing)