Clos de l'Écotard

### History Clos de l'Écotard is a small family domaine based in the Saumur appellation of the Loire Valley. The estate takes its name from its home vineyard, the Clos de l'Écotard, a walled or otherwise delineated parcel that anchors both the property and the range. Beyond that, specific details about the founding generation, ownership lineage, and key transitions in the domaine's history are not well documented in widely available sources. What the wine range makes clear is that the domaine works across multiple named parcels, suggesting a gradual accumulation of holdings rather than a single founding estate.

### Vineyards The domaine's vineyards sit within the Saumur appellation, a zone defined by the tuffeau limestone plateau and slopes of the middle Loire. Tuffeau, the soft, pale limestone specific to this stretch of the river, is the dominant soil parent material across the region, giving both the whites and reds a characteristic mineral frame. The named parcels in the range, including La Haie Nardin and Les Pentes, suggest distinct sites with individual identities; Les Pentes, meaning slopes, points to a site with meaningful gradient, which in Saumur typically indicates better drainage and more concentrated fruit. Farming practices are not publicly documented in detail.

### Winemaking The domaine produces across all three of Saumur's main wine categories: still white from chenin blanc, still red from cabernet franc, and a traditional-method sparkling Brut. The Clos de l'Écotard bottling appears in the range as both a single-vineyard statement wine and, across different vintages, as a recurring reference point for the estate. The presence of multiple single-parcel whites alongside a broader appellation bottling suggests a tiered approach, with the Clos and named-parcel wines given separate treatment from the domaine's more introductory labels. Specific cellar details, including vessel choice, oak use, and yeast practice, are not documented in sources available here.