Richard Desouche created his P’tit Domaine in 2006 from scratch, having previously worked for a négoce and with Didier Sanzay, his brother-in-law. He always worked in parallel and managed Chateau de Chaintres for 20 years. His first purchase was 0.6ha of Chenin Blanc «Entre deux Voyes» and 0.4 ha of Cabernet Franc «Les Bois Blancs».  He restored the vineyards, stopped using weedkiller and in 2009 turned towards organic viticulture with certification granted in 2013.

He has assembled 4.5ha piece by piece with some exceptional terroirs around the 3 villages of Saumur Champigny, Dampierre and Varrains. While touring his vineyards we talked about some very famous “Clos” dotted around the appellation. Clos Rougeard of course with whom he is currently the vineyard manager and a long-time friend of Nady Foucault, Clos Cristal and mostly his very own: Clos Lintier.

When talking about Richard to other vignerons in the Loire, they all speak very highly of him, his winemaking abilities are rightfully recognised by the region’s finest. They were thrilled to know Richard managed to secure Clos Lintier for his P’tit Domaine. An exceptional terroir, with 100+year old vines that were brutalised by the past owner who used a harvesting machine, and now pampered by Richard. He has already renovated the little vigneron house and will replant the orchard that once stood at the bottom of the Clos. Richard is creating a very special place with excellent biodiversity and energy, another place we look forward to picnic in!

Since 2017 he has his own facilities (sandwiched between Antoine Sanzay and Domaine des Roches Neuves) featuring a deep tuffeau cellar underneath to allow slow maturation. He applies a Burgundian approach to vinification with long maceration in tank or used barrels to protect freshness and purity. Despite having a reasonable vineyard holding, his production remains extremely small.