Domaine de l'Ecu began with Guy Bossard. Guy, a fifth generation Muscadet Sèvre et Maine vigneron, took over his family’s domaine in 1972 and immediately began to implement the practices that would make him a... Read More
Domaine de l'Ecu began with Guy Bossard. Guy, a fifth generation Muscadet Sèvre et Maine vigneron, took over his family’s domaine in 1972 and immediately began to implement the practices that would make him a pioneer and a legend. From the start, Guy was focused on building his domaine’s reputation on the principles of organic viticulture and truest respect for nature. His farming has been organic for over 40 years and certified biodynamic for over 20.
In the cellar, he implemented practices that are now common amongst the winemakers at the tip of the current zeitgeist: gentle extraction, indigenous yeast ferments, and minimal use of sulfur. Unlike most regular Muscadet, the wines are aged sur-lie for 15-18 months, resulting in a texture and layered complexity that have come to define the unique style of Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadets and set them apart from other wines in the appellation.
The domaine has continued to progress and is now under the reins of Fred Niger. Fred trained extensively with Guy before taking over the estate in 2012 and is an equally hands-on owner and fanatic in the vineyards. Fred continues the low intervention approach that Guy pioneered and the wines continue to be the most unique and complex examples from the appellation.
The domaine became famous for producing single terroir Muscadet. Those wines come from 50-60 year old vines and are grown and named after the the soil types in which they grow; ‘Granite”, “Gneiss,” and “Orthogneiss”.
