Esprit du lieu, 2018

Jonathan Maunoury has a PhD in Chemistry and spent 10 years as a researcher for next generation smartphone displays (UK and Belgium) before he felt the need for more open space and a life outside the lab. He went to wine school in Beaune and cemented his experience at a variety of biodynamic domaines in Burgundy (Chandon de Briailles), Champagne (Vouette et Sorbee), the Rhone (Gonon) and the Loire Valley (Mark Angely, Melaric, Maisons Rouges). In 2017 he struck out on his own, taking over 5 hectares of vines around the hill of Puy Notre Dame, just southwest of Saumur in the Loire Valley. His vineyards sit on the local limestone 'tuffeau' subsoil. The vines had been farmed organically for 20 years and Jonathan started working biodynamically in 2017. Most of his plantings are Cabernet Franc and he has a little Chardonnay, Carbernet Sauvignon and Pineau d'Aunis. He harvests by hand, ferments with natural yeasts and doesn't fine or filter. His goal is to make genuine wines that are as natural as possible with little intervention as possible.