Clos des Pivotins
Based in Chavignol, at the foot of the famous Monts Damnés vineyard, Raphaël and Claire Thomas cultivate 9 hectares of vines. Plantings are on three distinct soil types: caillotes, oxfordian limestone giving fine, fruity wines; terres blanches, kimmeridgian chalky marl giving profound, long-ageing wines; and silex, flinty soils giving lively, mineral wines. Each parcel is vinified separately before blending together for the Cuvée Tradition. The Clos des Néores comes from a single plot in the middle of the Monts Damnés and embodies the steep terres blanches terroir. Alongside sauvignon, 25% of the estate's holdings are made up of pinot noir. Vinification is traditional using natural yeasts for prolonged fermentation in old barrels. The wines are allowed 8-10 months maturation on fine lees before bottling.
