Clos des Plantes

Montbenault, Anjou, Loire, France

Clos des Plantes is the brainchild of winemaker Olivier Lejeune. Following 10 years in Southeast Asia working in the mobile gaming industry, Olivier needed a much needed escape back to nature and left for Auckland, New Zealand, where he finished a degree in viticulture and oenology and eventually ended up working full time at biodynamic estate Felton Road in Central Otago where he stayed for two harvests.

His journey eventually led him to cult Loire producer Mark Angeli (Ferme de la Sansonnière) where he stayed for one harvest, long enough to know that this is where he wanted to settle. In late 2016 he moved his family to Anjou, and by early 2017, through a bit of luck but also attentive searching, he was tipped about some old parcels that were for sale in the prized, schist-dominated zone of Montbenault in the Layon.

In March 2017 he began the colossal work of recovering 3 hectares that had been in abandon for three years, a work that has now paid off handsomely. In total he has 5 hectares of land, with the potential of a total of 6.5, but he does not intend to ever work more than 3 hectares of vines, with the rest dedicated to agroforestry, biodiversity, beekeeping, and potentially raising animals. He is a believer in less is more, barely ploughs the soil, and is focused on making these parcels a haven for biodiversity, and a balanced ecosystem, a job that takes years but that is well under way.

The quality of Olivier’s expressions of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Grolleau show the immense potential of a winemaker with an obsessive drive and a very bright future. His cuvée Poïèsis became an instant cult classic upon its first release (vintage 2017) and continues to be one of more sought after Anjou Chenin Blanc today.