Agnès, René, Joseph and Sylvestre Mosse – Domaine Mosse, Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay
Agnès and René used to run a Bar-a-Vin in Tours. It was that kind of pleasurably place where you could drink a bottle in house or take it to go. Through their wine bar, Agnès and René met a bunch of winemakers who inspired them to literally go into the vineyards.
So they decided to study viticulture and oenology in Amboise. After that they worked for two years at domaines in both Loire and Burgundy before they bought their own domaine in the village of St-Lambert-du-Lattay. René tells us that when they started out, ’natural wine’ (at least the way we speak of it today) did not exist. For Agnés and René it was all about working organically with the vines. This was in 1999 and today the domaine covers 17 hectares of prosperous vines, planted with 9 hectares of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon stands for 3 hectares and the last 5 hectares are planted with Chardonnay, Gamay, Grolleau Noir and Gris. The domaine is situated in the Layon area of Anjou and benefits from dry, long autumns and good botrytis, which also enables them to make great sweet wines. The work in the vineyards has been organic from the beginning and biodynamic since 2001.
”I never speak of natural wine when asked about our wines. For me, working as thoroughly as possible in the vineyard and not intervening in the cellar is the ONLY way to make exceptional wine. Quality is what matters. I don’t care how your wine was made if it’s undrinkable” – René
Today the whole Mosse family, the 2 sons Joséph and Sylvestré is involved running the domaine together with their parents.
We love those expressive whites and classical Cabernets. The wines speak for themselves. Here you go:
2015 Magic of Juju
Soil: Clay, gravel and shale on decomposed schist
Grape: Chenin Blanc & Melon de Bourgogne
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: 10 years
Yields: 30 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2014 Anjou Blanc
Soil: Shallow decomposing schist and quartz on schist rock, 3 hectares.
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: AOC Anjou
Age of Vines: 35 years
Yields: 30 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2014 Le Rouchefer
Soil: Clay and gravel on schist, with pebbles and quartz at bottom, 1.66 hectares.
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: 40 years
Yields: 27 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2014 Savennières Arena
Soil: Aeolian sand on schist, 0.45 hectares.
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: AOC Savennières
Age of Vines: 14 years
Yields: 30 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2014 Les Bonnes Blanches
Soil: Shallow decomposed schist and quartz on schist rock, 3 hectares.
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: 35 years
Yields: 30 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2013 Initials BB
Soil: Clay and gravel on schist with pebbles and quartz in the bottom, a selection from the Rouchefer vineyard.
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: 40 years
Yields: 27 hl/ha
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting then aged for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2014 Anjou Rouge
Soil: Schist, gravel and quartz on schist.
Grape: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: AOC Anjou Rouge
Age of Vines: 35-50 years
Yields: 30 hl/ha
Vinification: Fermentation with careful pipeage in stainless steel tanks for 2-3 weeks before pressing and ageing for 12 months in 225-liter old oak barrels.
2015 Rosemonde
Soil: Clay, gravel and schist
Grape: 92% Grolleau Gris 8% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: 30 years
Yields: 32 hl/ha
Vinification: Slow pressing, fermentation and ageing in tank until bottling april 2016.