Domaine du Clos Naudin

Domaine du Clos Naudin: Chenin from tuffeau, a century of Vouvray in the family

Domaine du Clos Naudin

Domaine du Clos Naudin is a family estate that has been established in Vouvray since the early 20th century. Grandfather Armand Foreau acquired the estate in 1923; André succeeded him, then Philippe Foreau took over in 1983. His son Vincent has gradually joined the estate and is now taking over its management. Three generations, one grape variety, one territory: Chenin on the premières côtes of Vouvray.

Wine region

Vouvray, Loire Valley, Indre-et-Loire.

Appellations and terroirs

The vineyard of around 11.5 hectares lies on the premières côtes of Vouvray, in the north-eastern corner of the appellation, mid-slope, with south, south-east and south-west exposures. The two main plots, "Les Perruches" and "Les Ruettes", sit on clay with flint (known locally as "perruches") covering a subsoil of tuffeau limestone. This clay and silica substrate ensures natural drainage and a stable water reserve. The estate's cellars were dug into the tuffeau in grandfather Armand's day and are used to age the wines at a constant temperature.

Signature grape varieties

• Chenin Blanc: 100% of the vineyard, made in every one of its styles

Philosophy and history

The estate's conviction: that each vintage dictates the shape of the wine, and that the winegrower's role is not to interfere. The style of the still wines (dry, off-dry or sweet) is not decided in advance but results from the natural conditions of the harvest. No chaptalisation, no acidification, no added yeasts: the wine is made with what the vintage has produced. This approach has been handed down from father to son since Armand Foreau.

Production details

The wines are fermented with the indigenous yeasts present on the grapes, in 300-litre barrels with a maximum of 5% new oak each year. Ageing is short, in wood, with bottling before the summer. The range includes a dry white, an off-dry, a sweet Classique (from raisined grapes, around 50 to 80 g of residual sugar) and, in vintages of exceptional ripeness, a sweet Réserve made from botrytised grapes. The traditional-method sparkling wines stay on their lees for at least 48 months before disgorgement. Harvesting is exclusively by hand; average yields are around 33 to 38 hl/ha.

Environmental commitment

Herbicides and insecticides were abandoned as early as 2005. The fertilisers used are of organic origin. The estate obtained organic certification around 2015.

Recognition

Bettane & Desseauve calls Clos Naudin "the Vouvray legend" and has awarded it its fifth star, admitting it to its "Pantheon of emotions".

Why choose a wine from Clos Naudin?

• A family estate that has run the same vineyard since 1923, on the best exposures of the premières côtes of Vouvray
• Exclusively Chenin Blanc, made without chaptalisation, acidification or added yeasts, using only indigenous yeasts
• A range covering every style of Chenin depending on the vintage: dry, off-dry, sweet and traditional method
• Ageing in 300-litre barrels with little new oak, in cellars dug into the tuffeau
• Farmed without herbicides or insecticides since 2005, with organic certification obtained around 2015

Explore our Domaine du Clos Naudin selection: terroir-driven Vouvray, organic Chenin made according to the vintage, from the tuffeau premières côtes the family has farmed for a century.