Region: Loire Valley, France
Appellation: VDF
Color/Style: Red Wine
Grapes: Pinot d’Aunis, Grolleau

Benoît Courault is one of Anjou Noir’s most distinctive natural vignerons, farming 6.5 hectares in Faye d’Anjou on poor schist and quartz soils. Raised in a family of horse breeders, he came to wine through a career as a sommelier before training in Burgundy and spending several years at Domaine de l’Anglore with Eric Pfifferling. Since returning to Anjou in 2005, he has rebuilt his domaine around organic farming, biodiversity, horse-plowing, and carefully selected massale plant material.

In the cellar, Courault favors spontaneous fermentation, used barrels and foudres, and minimal sulfur, while maintaining rigorous hygiene and close attention to every wine. His background as a taster gives his natural wines an unusual degree of precision and control. The result is a range that moves from deep, age-worthy Chenins and Cabernet Francs to younger, vibrant wines made from Grolleau and Pineau d’Aunis.

"Le Verger de l'Etang is a perfect blend of Grolleau and Pineau d'Aunis, resulting in a fresh and delicate co-ferment. Notes of herbs, cherries, and white pepper are present on the nose, while the palate offers a textural combination of red fruits and a hint of earthy tanginess. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering for maximum flavor.