A naturally ripe and sound grapes thanks to a specific vine training

Treatment of the vines is done in accordance with the environmentally responsible sustainable agriculture concept ("lutte raisonnée"). Since 2009, Sébastien RATRON make the soil cultivation mechanically to stop the use of chemical weed killing.

We must consider some elements before each intervention. This approach takes into account the past weather conditions, the weather ahead and the vine stage. We are committed to producing SAUMUR CHAMPIGNY typical of the appellation and respectful of the environment while allowing the durability of the family estate.

At Le Clos des Cordeliers, the budding out is early and the spring frosts are frequent. The entire vineyard is therefore fitted with a protective heating system, to ensure the yield is not affected.

The barren soil, perfectly drained, extract from the vines vigorous effort and, in turn, the extremly delicate tannins. The yield is managed through manual pruning (Guyot simple) and the controlled weeding between the rows, to optimise the vine's vigour and the absorption of excess water.

Chemical fertilisers are never used - only natural compost and, depending upon the needs of the vines, trace elements.

The south and south-west exposure of the vines produces naturally healthy grapes, further enhanced by carefully performed de-leafing, trimming, debudding and cluster-thinning, using mannual, as well as mechanical methods.

The harvest is entirely manual. Mechanical harvest is too agressive for the 45 years old vines, which make most of the vineyard. We put our trust in the experienced hand of the fruit-picker and a meticullous secondary table-sorting, to ensure that only the healthiest and ripest grapes are selected.

All fruit-pickers come from Saumur and its surroundings.