Domaine FL
Domaine FL is both ancient and modern, an Anjou domaine of two halves united during the early years of the 21st century by Philippe Fournier. The ancient half lies on the north side of the Loire, a venerable estate in Savennières, Château de Chamboureau, one of the original grandes dames of the appellation which should be considered alongside Domaine du Closel, Domaine aux Moines and the like. The more youthful half lies on the south side of the river, a collection of vineyards in the Anjou and Coteaux du Layon appellations, parcels of vines that came in part at least from the original Jo Pithon domaine. It is here, on the side of the road as it climbs out of Rochefort-sur-Loire, that Philippe has financed the construction of one of the Loire’s newest wineries, a rather block-faced edifice (pictured) which might lack any sense of beauty but which gives the team, now run by Philippe’s son Julien Fournier, all the modern facilities they need.
This profile explores the history of the domaine in detail. On the Anjou side it is short but tempestuous, the Anjou vineyards coming under the Fournier family’s control only as they were lost by Jo Pithon. On the Savennières side it is lengthy and involves some of the Savennières appellation’s most famous names. I will begin with the former, before looking to the history of the latter on the next page.
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