Importer notes from Kysela Per et Fils:

"Ahead of its time, Le Domaine de l'écu has been certified as an organic agriculturist since 1975 and certified Biodynamic since 1988 (Demeter). They believe that a great wine is conceived at the vine, and their attention is directed toward ploughing the ground, output control, canopy management, manual grape harvesting and respect of the biotope. They use no artificial technology in their cellars, and each of their vats is linked to a particular soil and a particular vintage. They are members of the "Renaissance des Appellations", a group committed to respecting the soil.

Domaine de l'écu was founded by Guy Bossard, who has been ‘in harmony with Mother Nature’ his whole life, and who, since childhood, wanted to become a wine producer like his father, his Grandfather and previous generations of his family. When chemical fertilizers became a popular option for many wineries in the 1970’s, the Bossard family continued to rely on natural methods, working the soil and using organic compost (Guy made his own from algae, forest brush and basalt). In 2010, Guy Bossard began looking for someone to take over the winery, and he found the right successor in Fred Niger, thanks to his long-standing passion for wine and dedication to maintaining the biodynamic traditions of the estate. Guys continued to work as a consultant with Fred until 2013, when he retired completely."

Cuvee Notes:

"Granite" comes from a single 3 hectare plot of vines averaging 50 years old. With exceptionally low yields for the appellation, concentrated fruit is hand harvested (also a rarity in the Pays Nantais), pressed and transferred to fermentation tanks without the use of pumps. Fermentation occurs without the use of commercial yeast, and elevage occurs on the lees in subterranean concrete vats.