Domaine 7
Anjou
Abel Benmaamar looks after 4 hectares of vines in the commune of Martigné-Briand. This is an area of Anjou in the loire valley famous for producing the greatest Chenin on earth, where the schist soils produce wines with a unique depth, smokiness and minerality. As well as Chenin, Abel also makes a Cabernet Franc called ‘Plume’ from an old vines plot rich in schist.
'Complex Chenin and multidimensional Cab Franc'
A Pharmacutical engineer turned winemaker, Abel came into the wine world a little later than most. After completing his wine studies in Macon, he began working for Domaine Thillardon in Beaujolais and Patrick Corbineau in the Loire. He always loved Chenin and Cab Franc and in 2018 he got his chance to make wines from these grapes when he was able to take over some vines at Julien Delrieu’s Les Roches Sèches, which have been certified organic since 2010. Abel’s sites typically have old vines, produce low yields, are full of biodiversity, are are worked without chemicals which along with his meticulous approach in the winery, make this one of the most exciting new domaines in Anjou.