Guide
to the Loire regions
Saint-Pourçain
Grower
Profiles

Maison
des Vignes - Chantelle
Domaine de la Chênaie
Jean Bonnet was an engineer by trade, but on his
retirement in 1991 he and his wife embarked on a venture to establish
their own domaine. With no viticultural experience Jean, then 69 years
old, signed up to attend a pruning and winemaking course in
Dijon
.
With just 2.5 hectares, planted in the communes of Chantelle and Fourilles,
Domaine de la Chênaie is the smallest (and southern-most) independent
producer in the appellation and whilst both Jean and his wife are now well
into their 80s, they are still much involved and happy to receive
visitors, many of them loyal customers from the Low Countries, in their
house-cum-tasting room. What help they do get comes at the weekend with
their son, who otherwise has a day job during the week.
The original plantings of 7.5 ares each of Pinot
Noir and Gamay, 6 ares of Chardonnay and 2 ares of Sauvignon remain
unchanged, with the couple admitting to having next to no Tressallier
planted. The four wines they produce are vinified in a purpose build
warehouse on the edge of their large garden, with all the grapes being
hand harvested – the couple stating that they like to make the picking a
event for friends, family and customers to get involved with.
The white wine is an almost equal blend of
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, whilst the red represents the equal ration
of the Gamay and Pinot Noir they have planted. There is a tiny amount of
rosé, and the couple are justifiably proud of the little Chardonnay-based
sparkling wine they sell which is made for them by Maison Clair in
Renaison in the Côte Roannaise.
It is as much a pleasure to sit and talk to Jean as it is to taste his
wines. He’s chatty, open and very down to earth, and the wines are
perfectly acceptable, even if there is nothing really to get excited
about. One wonders how long they can continue, or what the future holds
for the time when Jean decides to enter retirements for the second time.
Jean Bonnet
Domaine de la Chênaie
Rue du Champ-Martin
Chantelle
T/F : + 33 4 70 56 64 65
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