At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Loire
- Place
- Nueil-sur-Layon, Maine-et-Loire
- Vineyard
- 40 hectares
- Family history
- Four generations
- Grapes
- Chardonnay, Chenin, Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau noir, Grolleau Gris
- Named wines
- Terres de Paillé; Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Pierrot
- Defining feature
- Terra Vitis certification and direct cultivation, vinification and commercialization
The Producer
Pierre-Antoine Pinet took over winemaking leadership in 2007. In 2017, his younger brother Édouard returned from abroad and joined him in the cellar. The Pinet brothers own and operate Domaine de la Clartière as an independent family domaine in Nueil-sur-Layon, Maine-et-Loire.
The family handles the complete chain themselves. They cultivate the vines, vinify the wines and commercialize them directly. Terra Vitis certification forms part of the domaine's current operation.
Place
Nueil-sur-Layon, in Maine-et-Loire, is the domaine's home place. Cuvée Pierrot carries the Coteaux du Layon designation, so the wine's appellation appears directly in its name. The domaine also works across multiple AOC designations, giving the range more than one label category.
Wines
Terres de Paillé is made from 100% Chenin Blanc. It has a pale straw colour, floral and mineral aromas, and a fresh, balanced palate with quince and citron. It pairs with poultry and lobster.
Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Pierrot is also 100% Chenin Blanc, made from manually harvested, fully ripe grapes given a first sorting, with no noble rot. It ferments freely in tank. The wine is off dry, with 70g/L residual sugar, 11% alcohol and 4.6g/L acidity. It is ready to drink immediately and retains its fruity character for 3 to 5 years.
Final Word
Domaine de la Clartière keeps cultivation, vinification and commercialization under family control. Its named whites place Chenin Blanc in two distinct styles, from Terres de Paillé to Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Pierrot.