Domaine de l’Ecu

For those who seek authentic yet ceaselessly original wines there are few more important producers in the Loire valley than Domaine de l’Ecu. One of the iconic producers in the Muscadet zone, the vines here have been organically farmed for longer than most of us have been alive and biodynamically farmed for decades. Even as the estate’s torch has been passed, the wines speak unmistakably of their place. Fred and Claire Niger, who worked these 20 hectares alongside the famed Guy Bossard, have an insistent humility and a passion that they believe this place and this work demands of them. This translates to an unwavering commitment to both the specific terroirs of l’Ecu and a pathos of respectful, collaborative, yet uninhibited winemaking. Since taking the reins, Fred and Claire have expanded the tone and tenor of l’Ecu adding collaborative voices to their winemaking projects while remaining true to the vision that Guy put into place years earlier.