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Château de Bonnezeaux

👨‍🌾 History and Family

  • The origins of the Bonnezeaux cru date back to the Middle Ages: it was mentioned as early as 1055 by the monks of GuĂ© du Berge.

  • The Château de Bonnezeaux, owned by the Saclier de La Bâtie family, has spanned centuries. After a pause in the 1980s, the family decided in 2012 to revive the estate.

  • Since 2016, Guyonne Saclier de La Bâtie, together with Louis and Pierre, has relaunched production, restoring Chenin blanc to its former glory.

đź“Ť Location and Terroir

  • Situated on the banks of the Layon, at the heart of the Anjou Noir, in Maine-et-Loire.

  • The Bonnezeaux appellation is nestled within the Coteaux-du-Layon and covers about 120 hectares in total.

  • Soils rich in schist, sandstone, and phtanite, giving the wines minerality and great aging potential.

🌱 Philosophy and Practices

  • The vineyard is managed with respect for biodiversity and soils, following an approach close to organic and biodynamic farming.

  • Manual harvests and meticulous berry selection, often affected by noble rot (botrytis), essential for great sweet wines.

  • Low-intervention vinifications, with minimal sulfur use, to preserve the natural expression of fruit and terroir.

  • Use of traditional vertical presses, for delicate pressing.

🍇 Grapes and Cuvées

  • Single grape variety: Chenin blanc, planted between 1970 and 2018.

  • Some vines are over 50 years old.

  • Signature cuvĂ©es: La MinĂ©e Haute, La Montagne, Les Plantes, Inter-Val.

✨ Estate Signature

The Château de Bonnezeaux is today a symbol of rebirth: combining historical heritage, artisanal rigor, and modernity. Its Chenin sweet wines, rare and sought-after, stand out for their aromatic purity, depth, and exceptional aging potential.