One of the remarkable qualities of many wine families is their ability to continually reinvent themselves, introducing creative and exciting developments with each generation. In 2022, two scions of noted wine families, Benjamin Cormerais and Anthony Branger, seized a unique opportunity to take over the renowned Clos les Noëlles near Clisson in the Loire Valley. With the Clos as the anchor, they founded Domaine des Granits, with Anthony as vineyard manager and Benjamin handling the winemaking duties.”.
Located in the heart of the Sèvre et Maine appellation, the 3.5-hectare Clos les Noëlles is superbly situated to achieve full phenolic maturity. Its south-facing orientation helps reduce the risk of spring frosts. The soil is composed of a top layer of decomposed granite blended with clay, mica, and quartz, atop a bedrock of Granite de Clisson—a compact variety of plutonic granite that fractures easily, allowing vine roots to penetrate deeply and impart distinctive minerality. The vineyard is comprised of Melon de Bourgogne, the signature grape of Muscadet, with vines aged between 10 to 28 years.
The vineyard has successfully transitioned to organic practices and is now fully certified. Harvesting is meticulously done by hand in the early morning. The berries are directly pressed and, after settling, undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, glass-tiled concrete tanks. Following a minimum of six months aging on lees, the wine is bottled with minimal filtration and without fining.
