Les Jardins de la Martiniere, Xavier Rouge VDF Red 2014

In the village of Coutures, situated just outside the appellation of Brézé in Saumur, winemaker Kaya Tsutsui continues a legacy established by Xavier Caillard of iconic domaine Les Jardins Esméraldins. 

Today, the domaine is comprised of 5 hectares of vines, all situated on the south-easterly facing slopes that surround the old chateau on the property. Of these vines, cabernet franc represents 85% and chenin blanc only 15%, with an additional hectare replanted with local and more robust Loire varieties. While the parcels are more or less all adjacent, each has its unique features: the small, languid parcel of chenin planted by Xavier is surrounded by trees, the Cabernet Franc has a small experimental parcel pruned in goblet, another is made up of 70 year old vines.