Damien Laureau

History of Domaine Damien Laureau

The story of Damien Laureau is that of an agricultural engineer who discovers his viticultural vocation through family connections. After working in Paris as the manager of a plant composting company, he joined his uncle Jean-Louis Laureau in Anjou, who owned pear orchards in Frémur and a small vineyard in Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire. Together, they created a small estate producing simple Anjou Rouge and Blanc. It was there that Damien's passion for wine was born. In 1999, he took over the Clos Frémur in Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, combining viticulture and arboriculture (pear trees). But the fascination for the terroir of Savennières gradually took hold: in 1999, an opportunity arose when Madame de Vaulchier leased him 5.5 hectares at the Moulin de Beaupréau, one of the finest plots in the appellation, whose previous tenant had just gone bankrupt.

In 2006, Damien made a crucial decision: he abandoned the pear trees and refocused entirely on the vine, establishing his winery in Epiré. In 2007, he expanded his vineyard by leasing a quarter of a hectare in La Roche aux Moines and acquiring 1.3 hectares at Chambourcier (the Bel Ouvrage plot), purchased from the Soulez family, planted in 1999 and 2001. In 2009, he began the organic conversion of the entire vineyard, certified from the 2012 vintage onwards. Today, Damien Laureau is unanimously recognised as one of the producers who have shaken up Loire habits (high yields, chemical use in the vineyard and the winery) and restored Savennières to a central place among the great white wines of France.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Damien Laureau

The 8.5 hectares of Domaine Damien Laureau are spread across several plots on the Savennières hillside, all on the right bank of the Loire between Epiré and La Roche aux Moines. The soils of the Savennières appellation are among the most complex and singular in the Loire: schist, sandstone and rhyolite (ancient volcanic rocks) dominate, conferring on the wines a saline and iodine-tinged minerality that is highly characteristic, a natural tension and an exceptional ageing capacity. Depending on the plot, the nature and depth of the soils vary considerably, accounting for the differences in style between the cuvées.

Les Genêts comes from the Moulin de Beaupréau sector, on aeolian sands resting on schist and rhyolite, at the beginning of the plateau, yielding wines that are more generous and fruit-forward in their youth. Le Bel Ouvrage, from the Chambourcier plot between the Château de Chamboreau and La Roche aux Moines, on purer and poorer schist and rhyolite, on a slope for better drainage, produces a more powerful and concentrated Chenin. La Roche aux Moines, on its eponymous terroir, renowned since the Middle Ages for its soils of black schist and fine sandstone, produces the most mineral and most austere cuvée in its youth, but the greatest for ageing. The entire vineyard is certified organic, with very low yields and manual harvesting.

Winemaking at Domaine Damien Laureau

Damien Laureau vinifies with the rigour of an engineer and the sensitivity of a passionate craftsman. Harvesting is done by hand, with several passes through the vines to select grapes at optimal ripeness. Pressing is slow and gentle. Alcoholic fermentations are started with indigenous yeasts and take place in oak barrels, where the wines then remain for approximately 18 months of ageing before bottling. Initially, Les Genêts was aged in fibreglass tanks, but Damien progressively transferred his entire production to barrels for all cuvées. Only L'Alliance, the young-vine cuvée, remains in stainless steel.

Malolactic fermentation is natural and not blocked, contrary to the historical tradition of Savennières which often blocked the malo for a false freshness. Damien prefers an integrated and natural acidity, which gives the wines a generous texture and a stimulating finish of noble bitter notes, faithful to the expression of his volcanic terroirs. The wines are bottled unfiltered for the top cuvées, with particular attention paid to bottling dates and ageing conditions.

The cuvées of Domaine Damien Laureau

Savennières L'Alliance: Entry-level cuvée and young-vine cuvée (ten years of age), aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of the fruit and the freshness of the Chenin in its prime youth. Expressive and floral nose, lively and taut palate, fresh acidity and light minerality. An accessible Savennières to discover the estate's style, to be enjoyed within 3 to 5 years. Good quality-to-price ratio for the appellation.

Savennières Les Genêts: Cuvée from the vines in the Moulin de Beaupréau sector, at the beginning of the plateau, on aeolian sands resting on schist and rhyolite. Aged 18 months in barrels. This is the most generous and immediately approachable Savennières of the estate in its youth, with aromas of white fruits (apple, pear), flowers, chalk and a progressive minerality. Rich and sapid palate, stimulating finish with noble bitter notes. A remarkable value for the appellation, cited as a safe bet by many wine merchants. A wine to cellar for 8 to 15 years.

Savennières Le Bel Ouvrage: Single-vineyard cuvée from the lieu-dit Chambourcier, 1.3 hectares planted in 1999 and 2001 by the Soulez family, acquired by Damien in 2007. Located between the Château de Chamboreau and La Roche aux Moines, on pure schist and rhyolite on a slope, with a more powerful and concentrated expression than Les Genêts. Aged 18 months in barrels. Nose of orchard fruit (medlar, quince, apple pectin) with aromatic herbs and root notes. Gastronomic and complete palate, less oak influence than Les Genêts, greater purity of fruit. Coup de coeur at Wine Paris 2024. Comparable to a great village Burgundy in its class and tension.

Savennières Champ-Bourcier: A confidential single-vineyard cuvée from a very precise parcel selection within the estate's vineyard, considered by some enthusiasts to be the most complex and ambitious cuvée of the estate. Significant concentration, robust structure, stimulating bitter notes, very long ageing potential. Produced in very small quantities, it requires several years of patience to express itself fully and reveal the full depth of its terroir of schist and rhyolite. Not to be touched before 5 to 10 years.

Savennières Roche-aux-Moines: Iconic cuvée and the absolute pinnacle of the range, from a 25-are plot leased since 2007 on the legendary terroir of La Roche aux Moines, an appellation within the appellation classified as a cru since 1966. Soils of black schist and fine sandstone, south-facing exposure, steep slope. Aged 18 to 24 months in oak barrels. A wine of remarkable austerity and tension in its youth, with a deep saline and iodine-tinged minerality, aromas of chalk, flint, dried flowers and candied citrus. The palate is supremely athletic, taut as a bowstring, with a finish of rare length and persistence. A great wine for cellaring, ideally to be enjoyed after 10 to 20 years in the cellar. Cited as a "stratospheric bottle" by the specialist press for the 2022 vintage. Rivals over time with the finest white wines of France.