Etienne Bodet’s Clos Durandière  is a personal and profound project, rooted in his hometown of Montreuil-Bellay in Saumur. Trained by legends like Sylvain Pataille, Aurélien Gerbais, and Bernard Baudry—and currently one of the winemakers at the renowned Clos Rougeard—Etienne brings deep expertise to his work. In 2015, he received the 1.4-hectare Clos Durandière vineyard as a wedding gift, marking the start of a new chapter. Planted on rare Jurassic limestone, the vineyard’s shallow, iron-rich soils produce a cabernet franc of remarkable finesse, blending structure with an elegant transparency reminiscent of Saumur’s greatest estates.

Etienne farms biodynamically, aiming for low yields and purity. The 2021 Clos Durandiere is fermented with native yeasts, incorporating up to 35% whole clusters and minimal intervention—no punch-downs, pump-overs, or added SO2 until bottling, where just 20 ppm is used. After two years in neutral barrels, followed by six months in vats and bottle, the wine emerges refined and graceful.

Perfumed with notes of wild berries, violets, and subtle spice, this cabernet franc balances vibrant freshness with fine-grained tannins. A mineral streak runs through the wine, a tribute to the vineyard’s limestone soils, giving it depth and precision. Clos Durandiere is a wine that honors tradition while embracing a new generation’s artistry, offering both immediate charm and the promise of graceful evolution.