Maunoury
Jonathan Maunoury
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Puy-Notre-Dame is a little hill of chalk 20 kilometers south of the city of Saumur, sort of on the border of between the more limestone bedrock of the greater Saumur region, and the more superficial soils of Anjou noir. In 2015, after studying with such illustrious vignerons as Marc Angeli, Vouette and Sorbée, Pierre Gonin, Chandon de Briailles, and -naturally- Melaric, Jonathan settled in this little goldilocks zone of tuffeau vineyards. (Tuffeau is this sort of wet and crumbly bedrock that makes up all the caves of Saumur including the ones you walked through at La Dive! It's alluvial like schist, but not so much, and it produces a lot of power, but not as much as pure limestone).
Anyway, as a result of this interesting terroir and it being one of the driest places in France, the wine here is known for its muscularity and aromatic complexity. Also because it tastes very good. That's no more so the case than with this very cool lineup we've got from Jonathan spanning 4 vintages and many different exposures. Something for everyone here: completely biodynamic, without additives, and as clean as can be.
AOC Saumur "Ephémère" Rosé NV
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: Vines planted in 1982 and 2002 the hill of Puy Notre Dame. Clay-limestone soil and clayey sands on tuffeau (chalky limestone). Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: Direct pressed with stems. 2019 harvest aged one year in 400l barrels. 2020 harvest aged 6 months on lees in fiberglass. Assemblage in bottle.
Vdf "Alphée" 2019
VARIETY: Chardonnay
TERROIR: Vines planted from 1983-1985.
Predominantly clay-limestone soil on rock and green chalk alterite (middle Turonian period). Parcelles located halfway up slope (64-69 meter in altitude) on the south-east and south-west slopes of the mounds of Puy Notre Dame. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: Slow manual press of whole clusters. Juices transferred by gravity into 400l barrels. Aged on lees for 19 months. Bottled in July of 2021.
Vdf "Mon nom est Rouge" 2018
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: Vines planted in 1999.
Shallow soil (60 cm), stony with clay-limestone dominance on green chalk rock green chalk rock (mid Turonian period). Located halfway up (73 m of altitude) on the western slope of the Puy Notre Dame. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: De-stemmed, 4 day maceration in tank. Aged 9 months in tank.
AOC Saumur "Mon nom est Rouge" 2020
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: Vines planted from 1997 to 1999.
Shallow soil (60 cm), stony with clay-limestone dominance on green chalk rock. Chalky rock (tuffeau from the middle Turonian period). Plots located at mid-slope (60-70 m altitude) on the western side of the Puy Notre Dame hillock. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: 1 part sees a 5 day maceration.
1 part is a semi-carbonic maceration in whole clusters.
Months in tank, bottled in April of 2021.
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame "Esprit du Lieu" 2018
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: Vines planted in 1999.
Shallow soil (60 cm), stony with clay-limestone dominance on green chalk rock green chalk rock (mid Turonian period). Located halfway up (73 m of altitude) on the south-western slope of the Puy Notre Dame. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: 10-14 day maceration in stainless, gentle extraction. Aged 2.5 years in 225l barrels.
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame "Le Grand Champ Bourreau" 2017
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: Vines planted in from 1997-1999. This plot is less stony and has more soil. Located halfway up (73 m of altitude) on the south-western slope of the Puy Notre Dame. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: De-stemmed grapes, 3 week maceration in tank. Soft extraction with a little remontage. Transferred by gravity into 225L barrels. Aged 14 months in a troglodyte cellar.
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame "Le Amandiers" 2017
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc
TERROIR: 60 year old vines. Plot selection.
Shallow soil (50 cm), very stony with clay-limestone dominance on green chalk rock green chalk rock (mid Turonian period). Located 60 meters up on the western slope of the Puy Notre Dame. Certified organic since 1998 and worked biodynamically (nettle, horsetail, willow teas, and comfrey purines applied), certified biodynamic in 2017.
HARVEST: by hand
VINIFICATION: De-stemmed grapes, 3 week maceration in tank. Gentle extraction with a little remontage. Transferred by gravity into 225L barrels. Aged 14 months in a troglodyte cellar.