Domaine Fabrice Gasnier is a Biodynamic winery in the Touraine region of in the Loire valley of France. Wines are made under the Chinon AOC.
Fabrice Gasnier who is married to Sandrine Gasnier is the fourth generation of wine growers to be based in the hamlet of Chézelet, on the plains below Cravant and Panzoult; the first recorded vintage was in 1902. Fabrice’s great-grandfather had 3 hectares of vines, and his grandfather had 15 hectares. Since then parcels have been added, leaving 24ha today of which 23ha of Cabernet Franc and 1 hectare of Cabernet Sauvignon. Fabrice has been here since 1990, taking over from his father, Jacky who has retired. The name was changed from GAEC Jacky et Fabrice Gasnier to Domaine Fabrice Gasnier.
Vineyards: All 27 hectares are owned by the family. The vineyards straddle the communes of Cravant-les-Coteaux and Panzoult; the majority situated on the plain around Chézelet with a further five hectares on the slope and plateau above Cravant-les-Coteaux. All the vineyards are planted to Cabernet Franc (one remaining hectare of Cabernet Sauvignon was replaced in the mid-2000s) although Fabrice established 0.80ha of Chenin Blanc on the limestone slopes in 2010,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013).
Terroir: The terroir “est composé de terrasses graveleuses et de terrains argilo-siliceux sur sous-sol calcaire (tuffeau de Touraine).”
Certification: In 2005 all 25ha began biodynamic conversion (Demeter France, certified by Ecocert France). The first fully biodynamic vintage was 2008. | 2016 Demeter certified Biodynamic.
Biodynamics: Woods dynamizer.
Sparkling wines
Vin Mousseux Rosé, La Cravantine: Bottle fermented sparkling rosé. 100% Cabernet Franc.
White wines
Chinon Blanc AOC, Le Clos de la Cure: 2019 Bottled.
Chinon Rosé AOC: “The rosé comes from one combined hectare of 20 year old vines split between the lieux-dits of La Vallée du Roi and Les Haies Martels. It is produced solely by pressurage direct and represents around 8% of the cellars total production,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013).
Red wines
Chinon Rouge AOC, Les Graves: “As the name suggests, comes from 11.5 hectares of 20 to 40 year old vines on the gravel soils of Les Haies Martels, Les Egratigneux and La Poilerie. The resulting wine is raised in cement tanks and yields around 50,000 bottles a year,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013). | 2010 (50,000 bottles) from young vines fermented in cement and showed elegant clean mint and herb at Millésime Bio 2012.
Chinon Rouge AOC, Vielles Vignes: “The Vieilles Vignes is made up from a combined 5.6 hectares of 45 year old vines in Les Batteraux, Les Haies Martels, La Vallée du Roi and Les Clos de Chézelet. The soils here are predominantly clay-silica and are located on a minor puy that rises to a total of 1.5 metres above the gravel plain. Fermentation and malo-lactic are conducted in tank with the wine raised for six months in old 3,700 litre tonneau,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013). 2010 (28,000 bottles). Richer and smoother than the Les Graves, very nice at Millésime Bio 2012.
Chinon Rouge AOC, Fabrice Gasnier: “Signature (or from the 2009 vintage Fabrice Gasnier) is sourced from 65 to 70 year old vines planted by Fabrice’s grandfather in La Lubite and Les Batteraux. The wine is tank fermented with the malo-lactic and (14 months) ageing conducted in first and second-fill barriques,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013).
Chinon Rouge AOC, Cuvée à l’Ancienne: “Cuvée à l’Ancienne comes from 2.5 hectares in the gravel, clay and silica soils of La Queue de Poëlon in Panzoult. The wine is raised in older Burgundy barrels for one year,” (Kelley, R: 11 Jul 2013). | 2009 The 2009 was aged in 2-8 year old oak. 12,000 bottles. Smooth oak in background, rich and very good at Millésime Bio 2012.
L’Ethique nature: 2020 Old vine Cabernet Franc. No added sulfites.
Contact
Domaine Fabrice Gasnier
Lieu-dit Chezelet, 37500 Cravant les Coteaux , France
Tél:+33 (0)2 47 93 11 60
Website: www.domainefabricegasnier.com