Domaine du Collier: The Soul of Saumur
Some estates don’t just make wine; they carry a legacy. Domaine du Collier, founded by Antoine Foucault and his partner Caroline, is one of those rare names that capture the essence of the Loire. As the son of the late Charly Foucault of Clos Rougeard, Antoine grew up surrounded by the quiet mastery that defined one of France’s greatest domaines. When Clos Rougeard was sold unexpectedly after his father’s passing, Antoine channelled that legacy into his own vision. The result is Domaine du Collier, a beacon of purity, patience and place that now ranks among the Loire’s most revered producers.
Founded in 1999, the domaine is located in the heart of Saumur, with seven hectares of old vines rooted in clay-limestone soils over the region’s famous tuffeau bedrock. Farmed organically and by hand, these vineyards produce Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc of remarkable character. Many of the vines are over 70 years old, some approaching a century, their deep roots drawing from the mineral veins of the limestone plateau.
Antoine’s approach is defined by precision and restraint. Fermentations occur naturally with indigenous yeasts, followed by long, slow ageing in the domaine’s vast subterranean cellars, 40 metres below ground. The temperature remains constant year-round, allowing the wines to evolve gracefully over 12 to 24 months in a mix of new and used barrels. Bottled without fining or filtration, each cuvée is a transparent reflection of its origin. The result is wines that are textural, structured and alive, balancing richness with crystalline purity.
Saumur Blanc
The Saumur Blanc is drawn from 2.5 hectares of Chenin Blanc vines grown on the slopes of Brézé, one of the Loire’s most celebrated terroirs. The vines, aged between 18 and 70 years, sit on chalky clay-limestone soils that imbue the wines with lift and precision. Yields are low, averaging just 30 hectolitres per hectare, producing a wine that is taut, focused and deeply mineral. Notes of citrus, orchard blossom and crushed stone unfold across the palate, underpinned by a saline freshness that speaks unmistakably of the limestone beneath. This is Chenin Blanc in its purest and most expressive form.
La Charpentrie Blanc
La Charpentrie is the jewel of the domaine, sourced from a tiny parcel of 100-year-old vines in the lieu-dit of the same name. Often described as an unofficial Grand Cru of Saumur, this site produces wines of extraordinary depth and longevity. The Charpentrie combines intensity with grace, revealing layers of citrus oil, white peach, wet stone and beeswax. Its texture is both powerful and refined, a wine that unfolds slowly in the glass and promises decades of evolution in the cellar. It is a testament to the quiet perfectionism that defines Antoine Foucault’s work.
Domaine du Collier’s wines are not loud or showy; they are contemplative, detailed and full of quiet strength. Each bottle carries the spirit of the Foucault family, not through imitation but through authenticity. These are wines that speak softly yet linger long, embodying the patience, precision and soul that have made the Loire one of the world’s most compelling wine regions.
