Château de Bonnezeaux
The AOC Bonnezeaux was once the epicenter of sweet Loire wine, but the region fell into decline at the end of the last century. There are still producers in this small area around Bonnezeaux who make sweet wine, but harvesting wine with noble rot (botrytis) means late-season manual picking of grapes and a critical selection of the grapes per bunch. This is labor intensive and harvesting in late summer is risky.
In the early 1980s, Château de Bonnezeaux stops growing wine and rents out the once famous vineyards to local farmers. The La Montagne plot ends up with René Renou, a successful producer of dessert wine. Unfortunately, at the end of the 1990s, the lease of the vineyards can not be extended due to an inheritance issue and the deterioration of La Montagne and the other plots of the Château begins.
Fast forward to 2014, we see the name Guyonne Saclier de la Bâtie appear. As heiress of Château de Bonnezeaux, her family asks her to bring the domain back to life. What she finds as a starting point are vineyards that are completely overgrown, including wild vines of Chenin Blanc that are more than 50 years old amongst untouched nature with a rich and vibrant soil.
Guyonne's practical experience comes from an internship with Stephane Bernaudeau and work with Mark Angeli of La Ferme de la Sansonnière. Mark is a pioneer in the Loire when it comes to growing Chenin blanc for dry wine in a biodynamic way. Inspired by Mark, and with his help, she decides to also make dry white wine. The first vintage to appear on the market is 2016.
The wine from Château de Bonnezeaux does not qualify for the Bonnezeaux AOC due to its dry character: it is a Vin de France. However, this simple appellation does not matter for the commercial success of this small domain: Guyonne's top cuvées are sold out everywhere or only available by allocation and anyone hoping to obtain a bottle through a visit to the site will be disappointed because the domain, haunted by the aura of 'the next big thing' by natural wine lovers, unfortunately no longer allows visitors.
You will find 4 cuvées from Château de Bonnezeaux at this auction: Les Coqueries, Inter-Val and La Minée Basse. Lots 2572, 2573, 2574 and 2575.
In the early 1980s, Château de Bonnezeaux stops growing wine and rents out the once famous vineyards to local farmers. The La Montagne plot ends up with René Renou, a successful producer of dessert wine. Unfortunately, at the end of the 1990s, the lease of the vineyards can not be extended due to an inheritance issue and the deterioration of La Montagne and the other plots of the Château begins.
Fast forward to 2014, we see the name Guyonne Saclier de la Bâtie appear. As heiress of Château de Bonnezeaux, her family asks her to bring the domain back to life. What she finds as a starting point are vineyards that are completely overgrown, including wild vines of Chenin Blanc that are more than 50 years old amongst untouched nature with a rich and vibrant soil.
Guyonne's practical experience comes from an internship with Stephane Bernaudeau and work with Mark Angeli of La Ferme de la Sansonnière. Mark is a pioneer in the Loire when it comes to growing Chenin blanc for dry wine in a biodynamic way. Inspired by Mark, and with his help, she decides to also make dry white wine. The first vintage to appear on the market is 2016.
The wine from Château de Bonnezeaux does not qualify for the Bonnezeaux AOC due to its dry character: it is a Vin de France. However, this simple appellation does not matter for the commercial success of this small domain: Guyonne's top cuvées are sold out everywhere or only available by allocation and anyone hoping to obtain a bottle through a visit to the site will be disappointed because the domain, haunted by the aura of 'the next big thing' by natural wine lovers, unfortunately no longer allows visitors.
You will find 4 cuvées from Château de Bonnezeaux at this auction: Les Coqueries, Inter-Val and La Minée Basse. Lots 2572, 2573, 2574 and 2575.