Domaine de l’Ecu
Muscadet, France
Domaine de l’Ecu is a true pioneer in the wine world. Since 1972, we have cultivated our vines organically, and since 1998, we have been committed to biodynamics. Respect for the vines and the terroirs is at the heart of our approach, our wines are aged in amphorae, thus reconnecting with ancestral traditions.
We have renounced all artificial winemaking techniques in our winery as a form of severance from the movement to standardize wines and as a way to preserve the link between our wines, their terroir, and the unique characteristics of each new vintage.
Selected yeasts, enzymes, thermo-vinification, flash pasteruization, reverse osmosis, and other processes intended to render wines more uniform and without soul have no place in our winery.
It may be obvious, but we’ll remind you nevertheless : here we make real wines without fuss, makeup, or anything else!
Our wines are present on the wine lists of the world’s most respected restaurants throughout the globe. You will find them in many terrific restaurants and bistros run by chefs who seek wines and produce that represent terroir and quality.
We refuse to use distribution channels that promote mass-produced wines in opposition with our philosophy. We work instead with passionate wine sellers capable of helping you find the perfect bottle for any and every occasion.
l’
Ecu Classic
VARIETY: Melon B.
VINEYARD SIZE: 4.50 ha.
AGE OF VINES: 30-35 years old.
TERROIR: Loire Valley vineyard Orientation of the slopes is west and northwest. Soil is Siliceous with a sub-soil of metamorphic rock.
PRODUCTION: 40 hl/ha Soil ploughing and soil scraping. Canopy management.
PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND REFINING: Organically farmed since 1975. Biodynamic – Demeter certified since 1998 Hand-picked grapes. Harvest reception by gravity. No use of pumps. Pneumatic pressing. Fermentation 100 % natural yeast. Aged “on the lees” in underground vats covered with glass tiles.
No fining, No filtration.
l’Ecu Orthogneiss
GRAPE-VARIETY: 100 % Melon B.
SURFACE: 3 ha (7.4 acres).
AGE OF VINES: 45-55 years old.
TERROIR: Loire Valley Loire vineyard Orientation of slopes: South East. Sub-soil: Orthogneiss.
VITICULTURE: 35 hl/ha Soil ploughing and soil scraping. Canopy management. PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: 100 % hand-picked grapes Reception of the grapes harvest by gravity. No use of pumps. Pneumatic pressing. No racking of the must. Fermentation 100 % natural yeast. Aged 15/18 months “on the lees” in underground concrete vats covered with glass tiles.
Certified Organic & Biodynamic grapes.
No fining, No filtration.
l’Ecu Granite
GRAPE-VARIETY: 100 % Melon B.
SURFACE: 3 ha (7.4 acres).
AGE OF VINES: 45-55 years old.
TERROIR: Loire Valley Loire vineyard Orientation of slopes: southwest. Stony soil. Sub-sol: Two-Mica Granite.
VITICULTURE: 35 hl/ha Soil ploughing and soil scraping. Canopy management.
PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Organicly farmed since 1975. Biodynamic – Demeter certified since 1998 100 % hand-picked grapes Reception of the grapes harvest by gravity. No use of pumps. Pneumatic pressing. No racking of the must. Fermentation 100 % natural yeast. Aged 12/15 months “on the lees” in underground concrete vats covered with glass tiles.
No fining, No filtration.
l’Ecu Muse
GRAPE: 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon.
VINEYARD SIZE: 1 ha. TERROIR: Loire valley. South-west orientated. Orthogneiss underground
VITICULTURE: around 40hl/ha Soil ploughing & scraping. Canopy management.
PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Organic farming Hand-picked harvest. Harvest transferred by gravity into vats, no pump used. Direct pneumatic pressing. Fermentation: 100% native yeasts. Aged in concrete vats.
l’Ecu Astra
VARIETY: 100% Gamay
VINEYARD SIZE: 1 hectare.
TERROIR: Loire Valley. Plot of land: “Les Ronces”, west orientated. Mica-schist subsoil.
VITICULTURE: 35hl/ha Soil ploughing and scraping, canopy management.
PRUNING: Guyot simple.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Organic farming. Hand-picked harvest. Harvest transfered by gravity into the vats, no pump used. Short vatting : 10 days, entire and none-crushed grapes, without running off the juice. Pneumatic pressing. Fermentation: 100 % natives yeasts. Aged in 450 liters Amphoras during 12 months.
No fining, no filtration.
l’Ecu Mephisto
VARIETY: 100 % Cabernet Franc.
VINEYARD SIZE: 0,8 ha.
TERROIR: Loire Valley Vineyard. Orientation Southeast. Stony Soil. Subsoil: Granite
VITICULTURE: around 30hl/ha Soil ploughing and scraping. Canopy management.
PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Organically farmed since 1975. Biodynamics – Demeter certified since 1998 Hand-picked harvest. Harvest reception by gravity. Short vatting: 7 days, destemed grapes. Pneumatic pressing. Fermentation: 100 % natives yeasts. Aged in 800 liters Amphoras during 12 months;
No fining, no filtration.
l’Ecu Matris
VARIETY: Chenin.
TERROIR: Loire Valley vineyards. South-east Orientated. Orthogneiss subsoil.
VITICULTURE: 25 Hl/Ha. Soil ploughing and scraping, canopy management.
PRUNING: Guyot Simple.
VINIFICATION & MATURATION: Organic farming since 1972. Biodynamie –Demeter certified since 1998. 100% hand-picked harvest. Reception of the grape harvest by gravity. Pneumatic pressing, no racking of the must. Fermentation: native yeasts. Aged in amphoras during 12 months.
No fining, no filtration.
l’Ecu Taurus
VARIETY: Melon B.
VINEYARD SIZE: 80 acres.
AGE OF VINES: 55 years old.
TERROIR: Loire Valley Orientation Southwest & Southeast. Stony Soil. Subsoil: Mica Granite and Orthogneiss
VITICULTURE: 40 Hl/Ha Soil ploughing and scraping. Canopy management.
PRUNING: Simple Guyot.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Organically farmed since 1975. Biodynamics – Demeter certified since 1998 Hand-picked grapes Reception of the grape harvest by gravity. No use of pumps. Pneumatic pressing. No racking of the must. Fermentation: 100 % natural yeast. Aged 2 years “on the lees”: 50% in Stockingers (Austrian oak barrels) and 50% in amphoras.
No filtration, No fining.
l’Ecu Alaya
VARIETY : 100% Pineau d’Aunis.
VINEYARD SIZE : 1 hectare.
TERROIR : Loire Valley. Orientation Southeast. Volcanic Orthogneiss bedrock.
VITICULTURE : The soil is tilled, de-budding and de-leafing in the vineyard by hand.
PRUNING : Guyot Simple.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Harvested 100% by hand. Harvest received in the winery by gravity without using pumps. Pressed using a Pneumatic Press. No settling. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maturation : 12 months in amphorae.
Certified Organic & Biodynamic.
No fining, No filtration.