Domaine du Collier

Vigneron Antoine Foucault established Domaine du Collier on the limestone-rich hillsides that surround the village of Brézé in 1999. Up to then he had been learning from the cream of the winemaking crop, Charly and Nady (his uncle and late father), at Clos Rougeard. Antoine abstains from the temptation of chemistry both in his vineyards and winery until the point of bottling, when a minimal amount of SO2 is usually added at bottling. He did once bottle a magnum of the 'Les Ripailles' without any S02 for us, and the difference is nearly undetectable.
Antoine vinifies in the famously chilly cellars of Clos Rougeard, using only old barrels for ageing, which extends to some 24-36 months plus a year or more in bottle until release.
There are a total of 5 wines coming from Antoine: Saumur Blanc, Saumur Blanc 'Charpentrie', Saumur Rouge, Saumur Rouge 'La Ripaille' and Saumur Rouge 'Charpentrie'. The Charpentrie and Ripaille wines are made from centenarian vines, both the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, from the famous Brézé.
Getting ahold of his wines is not yet quite as hard as with the familiar Clos Rougeard, but they are getting there. So if you'd like to get your hands on these long-lived masterful wines, you have to be quick!