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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