Jérôme Bretaudeau

The Story of Jérôme Bretaudeau - Domaine de Bellevue

The story of Domaine de Bellevue is one of a passionate renaissance. In the early 1990s, after studying viticulture at the Briacé secondary school in Le Landreau, Jérôme Bretaudeau joined Alain Gaubert's team in Vallet as head of cultivation on a conventional 25-hectare estate. He gained solid experience there over thirteen years, learning the ins and outs of vine growing and winemaking. In 2001, he took over his father's two family hectares in Gétigné, a historically wine-growing commune that had been neglected during the 1980s and 90s, where vines had almost disappeared. As the only winegrower in the commune, Jérôme did not lose heart: he gradually expanded his estate by buying up abandoned plots. In 2005, he settled definitively on six hectares, marking the official birth of Domaine de Bellevue. Today, with a team of seven passionate collaborators and a recent partnership with the Champagne house Billecart-Salmon (minority shareholder since 2023), the estate extends over some twenty hectares and was awarded the title of Winegrower of the Year in 2025. Jérôme Bretaudeau, a member of the Académie du vin de France since 2023, thus embodies the driving force of a Muscadet appellation in full renaissance.

Terroirs and Vines of Jérôme Bretaudeau - Domaine de Bellevue

Domaine de Bellevue draws its strength from exceptional terroirs, spread across five key communes of Muscadet: Gétigné (where Jérôme is the only winegrower), Cugand (in the Vendée, on the other side of the Sèvre Nantaise), Clisson, Vallet and Gorges. These diverse soils — pink and white granites, quartz, volcanic gabbro (a black magmatic rock similar to basalt) and clay-schist — offer a cool oceanic microclimate, conducive to mineral and sapid wines. Across these 15 hectares (10 in whites and 5 in reds), Melon de Bourgogne dominates (90% of the vineyard), but Jérôme boldly cultivates rare grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Savagnin from the Jura, Pinot Gris, Folle Blanche and Sauvignon Gris for the whites, and Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay for the reds. The vines, aged between 15 and 50 years, have been farmed biodynamically since 2016 (Ecocert organic certification in 2012, Biodyvin in 2020), with massal selection to preserve genetic diversity. Jérôme harvests by vine age and soil type, planting cover crops to enrich the soils and installing innovative frost-prevention systems, scrupulously respecting lunar cycles for viticulture in harmony with nature.

Winemaking at Jérôme Bretaudeau - Domaine de Bellevue

Winemaking at Domaine de Bellevue is a laboratory of creative experimentation, guided by Jérôme Bretaudeau's intuition to extract the best from each terroir. All fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, without additives or filtration, and often include a malolactic fermentation to soften the wines. Jérôme favours extended macerations for the reds (infusion or co-maceration), and long ageing on lees to develop complexity and finesse. His plots include stainless steel vats for freshness, Burgundian foudres and barrels for subtle oxygenation, concrete ovoïd eggs for a silky texture, terracotta amphorae for pure minerality, and even buried vats or a solera system for dynamic blends. These techniques, applied with precision, transform the Melon de Bourgogne into vibrant wines and elevate atypical grape varieties to a gastronomic level.

The Cuvées of Jérôme Bretaudeau - Domaine de Bellevue

The cuvées of Domaine de Bellevue captivate through their diversity and terroir expression, combining oceanic freshness with mineral depth.

For the Muscadets:

Granit Clos des Perrières (Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine): From 2.5 ha of Melon de Bourgogne on pink/white granites and quartz in Clisson (vines from the 1980s), fermented in stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts and aged 18–24 months on lees in concrete eggs. A linear and concentrated wine, with saline and fruity notes, of a silky and refined texture.

Gaïa Cuvée Ovoïde: From 1.5 ha of old vines (1960s) on gabbro in Gétigné, direct-pressed and naturally fermented, then aged 18–24 months in concrete eggs. Dense volume, fruit ripeness balanced by a taut minerality, for a modern and easy-drinking Muscadet.

Gabbro Clos des Bouquinardières: A new cuvée since 2018, 100% Melon on gabbro in Gorges/Clisson (vines under organic conversion), matured 10–24 months on lees in buried stainless steel and concrete vats, with light sulphuring. Crystalline and energetic, with aromas of citrus and white fruits, chiselled and ample.

For the atypical whites:

La Justice (Val de Loire): Blend of 70–80% Chardonnay and 20–30% Savagnin on granites and quartz (0.5 ha, vines from the 1980s), aged 14 months in foudres, amphorae or ovoïd vats. Floral nose with juicy pear, an ample and precise palate, mineral with an iodine and salivating finish — a truly extraordinary wine unlike any other.

Pinot Gris Macération: From 0.5 ha on granites and quartz (15 years old), destemmed and macerated 3–8 days in concrete, naturally fermented then aged 12 months in foudre and amphora. Floral intensity balanced by light tannins, ideal as an aperitif or with cheeses and Asian cuisine.

For the reds:

Statera Pinot Noir (Vin de France): 0.5 ha planted in 2005 on granites and quartz, fermented as whole clusters with indigenous yeasts, aged 10 months in old barrels. A harmonious bouquet of red fruits and flowers (rose, peony), a velvety palate with silky tannins and a juicy finish — a finesse comparable to the great Burgundians.

Ornaté Merlot (Vin de France): 0.5 ha on granitic slopes (early 2000s), 100% destemmed with a 12-day infusion, aged 18 months in Burgundian barrels. Fresh and juicy, silky with ripe fruits and spices, of great drinkability.

V Sens Rouge (Vin de France): Blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot (1.5 ha, 15–20 years old, massal selection) on quartz-rich granites with south/south-east exposure, 50% whole clusters in alternating layers, naturally fermented and aged 12 months in foudre with lees. Surprisingly ripe fruits, smooth tannins and rare finesse for the Nantes region.

Other cuvées such as a Chardonnay solera or a Gamay complete this range.

The Domaine de Bellevue and its master Jérôme Bretaudeau are restoring the noble credentials of Muscadet, proving that Loire wines can rival the greatest French crus. With an unceasing quest for balance between fruit, minerality and elegance, these biodynamic cuvées invite the discovery of an underestimated yet abundantly promising terroir. Would you like to purchase a bottle of wine by Jérôme Bretaudeau from the Domaine de Bellevue? Discover our selection of wines from the estate as well as other great Loire producers such as Alain Lenoir, Antoine Sanzay, Bernard Baudry, Charles Joguet, Clau de Nell, Foreau, François Cotat, Pascal Cotat, Alphonse Mellot, Vacheron, Clos Rougeard, Coulée de Serrant, Didier Dagueneau, Edmond Vatan, Gérard Boulay, Guiberteau, Huet, Jérôme Bretaudeau, Philippe Alliet, Richard Leroy, Saint Nicolas, Stephane Bernaudeau, Vacheron, etc... Bottle, Magnum…. With Vins et Millésimes, buying wine online has never been easier! Always 100% in stock, with fast shipping and at the best price!