Pierre Ménard, 2018 Anjou Rouge "Orion Alpha"
Cab Franc du Jour #30
Pierre Ménard’s family has long farmed parcels in Faye d’Anjou, but Pierre’s own journey began in 2013 when he started vinifying the family’s grapes that had previously been sold to the local cooperative. The estate is located in the village of Faye d’Anjou, about 25km south of Angers, within the boundaries of the Coteaux du Layon AOP just north of the Layon River.
The soils here are predominantly schistous in origin, and it is worth being direct about what that means for Cabernet Franc. Schist does not retain moisture to the degree the variety needs to thrive, and that hydric stress can result in smaller berries with less juice, harder and more rustic tannins, and more pronounced vegetative character. Site selection for Cabernet Franc in Anjou is therefore not just important, it is everything.
Pierre farms a mere 0.4 hectares of Cabernet Franc from two family-owned plots that together provide the balance of conditions the variety needs. The first, from Clos des Mailles, is planted with 70-year-old vines on lighter soils that contribute lift and aromatics to the wine. The second has a heavier clay topsoil with younger vines of around 12 years, bringing roundness, fruit, and a degree of power. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically.
The fruit is hand-picked and hand-destemmed before being vinified directly in barrel, with maceration only and no pump-overs. The wine then ages in barrel for a further six months before bottling.
Wine Details
Producer: Pierre Ménard
Appellation: Anjou Rouge
Communes: Faye d'Anjou
Soils: Schist bedrock, with clay topsoil in one parcel and lighter sandy-clay in another
Alcohol: 14%