Anjou Village Brissac, Château Prince

Chateau Prince was founded as a fortress in the late 11th Century, situated on a unique shale and slate hill that looks east overlooking the tiny river Aubance, south of Angers. The current house sits on the foundations of this first castle. Destroyed by fires in the latter part of the 17th century, the estate has passed from owner to owner until 2002, when friends Mathias Levron and Regis Vincenot purchased the estate and surrounding vineyards with a view to producing the best wine possible from Chenin Blanc, in the middle vineyards of the Loire region.

Certified Organic since 2015 by Ecocert, Chateau Prince now covers some 27 hectares spread over several vineyard plots, including some older vine Cabernet Franc in the top region of Brissac nearby. Mathias and Regis’s philosophy has always been to work from the vineyard to the winery, improving the soil by planting specific crops and ploughing back in, raising the nitrogen and humous levels, as well as allowing cover crops to thrive as a way of promoting bio-diversity and vine health. Picking is done by hand and the Chenin grapes cooled prior to pressing, with light pressing and clarification ensuring no bitterness from broken skins and pips. Cool ferment in tank is followed by ageing in used French oak barrels. Comparison with estates surrounding Chateau prince show a dramatic reduction in yields with strict selection of bunches both in the vineyard and at the sorting table ensuring only the healthiest bunches are used.

The range at Chateau Prince includes a dry Chenin, aged in oak – Les Ardousiers, which is almost Burgundian in texture and character. A sweeter Coteaux de l’Aubance, from the rare sub-region of the Aubance district, has a wonderful honeyed sweetness and piercing acidity. Floral, marmalade and grapefruit notes – perfect with cheese and light fruit desserts. The red Cabernet Franc is made in Brissac,and classified AOC Anjou Villages Brissac; aged for 2 years in barrel and 3 further years in bottles prior to release. A hedonistic and herbal Cab Franc that will age remarkable well, yet offers a really juicy, plump and structured red wine, with a firm tannin structure and nice freshness.