Jean-Marc
Renaud, Domaine Franchaie (2004)
Jean-Marc
Renaud was born in Nantes
to a family of florists. He studied agriculture in Angers
before spending his military service as an agronomist in Nigeria. Renaud then worked for two years at an estate in the Coteaux de
Tricastin before taking a position as a viticultural advisor in the
Minervois and Costières de Nimes. Prior to taking on this fermage
in La Roche, he was the deputy director of the well respected cooperative
in St-Cyr-en-Bourg, just outside Saumur. However, wanting to return closer
to his family roots in Nantes, an opportunity arose in 2004 for him to start his own domaine here on
the edge of the Savennières appellation.
The
Cellar and vineyards belong to Francois Chaillou. He bought the manor
house at La Roche from Claude Gachet, who had last made wine here in the
early 1980s. Although an Angevin,
Chaillou lived in Paris, but had a created a wine estate here with his brother, Christophe who
took a commercial role. The wines had been made by Alain Boré, himself a
relative of Chaillou, in his own cellar across the
Loire
in La Pommeraye. Chaillou had, however, decided to retire in 2004 and
offered the vines up for rent. Of the total five hectares, most of the
vines are on the plateau of Mammelonné to the west of La Possonnière and
are within the
Anjou
and Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire appellations. However, Chaillou had also
planted a total of two hectares split between two parcels of Chenin on the
plateau of Savennières in 1990.
Renaud
converted a warehouse that had previously been used as a storage facility
and office at the edge of the vineyard into a modern cellar. His first
harvest here was in 2004, although he had worked with Alain Boré in
finishing off the fermentations of the 2003 vintage.
Wine
Overview:
All
of Renaud’s Savennières are raised in tank. Fermentation is conducted
using natural yeasts.
The
Wines:
Having
now had three very different vintages to contend with, Renaud is finding
his stride. These are not the greatest wines in the appellation, but they
are well made and authentic and it is refreshing to see he hasn’t been
seduced into using oak. They also offer some of the best value in the
region.
2008
Savennières
Pale appearance and a 'green' and vegetal nose. Asparagus water and not
unlike the profile of most Baumard wines from this appellation. Clean and
well balanced but a little simple. No real character and lacks a sense of
place. Approachable. (02/11)
2006
Savennières
From
80% ripe berries with 20% botrytis affected grapes. The wine went through
malolactic this year. Pale appearance. Very quiet nose and not very
expressive. Slightly old style and faintly ‘grubby’ Chenin with some
marzipan hints. Mid weight on entry with some freshness, although it
retains its rustic edge. Builds well on the palate with firm acidity to
the finish. Rounded texture with good chalky minerality to the finish.
Authentic. This should evolve a little further, although is a bit clumsy
at present. (02/08)
2005
Savennières
Harvested
from the 15th October from 100% raisin
d’orée berries. Pale appearance. Straw/green. Simple, green
and floral nose and showing some signs of negative maturity. The palate is
a bit shallow and also showing its age. Light, simple and ordinary
although it hold
its (15%) alcohol well. Monotone and lacking any real character. (02/10)
2004
Savennières
Picked
with 30% raisin d’orée and
20% botrytis affected fruit. Mid depth. Straw. Attractive, clean nose.
Quite rich with some honey and quince. No real evidence of botrytis. Well
focused entry. Clean, stony and mineral. Builds well, with good structure
and length. A touch hot and powerful on the finish. Persistent. This is
still youthful and evolving. It should age well. 8,000 bottles produced.
(02/08)
2003
Savennières
Produced
by Alain Boré in La Pommeraye. Pale appearance. Broad nose. Showing a bit
too floral, advanced and a bit flabby. Closed and not very expressive.
Broad on entry with some hints of coconut. The finish is hot and clumsy.
Typical of the vintage. This is short on acidity and is unlikely to age or
develop further. (02/08)
2002
Savennières
Mid
depth appearance. Delicate nose with almost coconut/Riesling like notes.
Mature, clean, floral and attractive. Faint terpine. Good minerality on
entry and builds well. More Riesling like characters to the palate. Firm
acidity to finish and could do with some more time to integrate. Well
textured. Dry and mineral with the alcohol showing a little to the finish.
Just falls a little
short. (02/08)
Jean-Marc
Renard
Chateau
La Franchaie
La
Possonière
02
41 39 18 16
02
41 39 18 17
chateaufranchaie@wanadoo.fr
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