Château de Fesles: Le Pape de la Viticulture
Despite his apparent foibles Jean Boivin was still a highly regarded figure in the region. Even today, almost a century later, acolytes of Chenin Blanc still quote from his thesis on noble rot in Sauternes and Anjou, entitled Des Facteurs qui Influent sur la Production des Vins de Pourriture Noble à Sauternes et en Anjou (published 1924). Speaking to Jean Bellard, author of Paroles de Vignerons et Vigneronnes d’Anjou et de Saumur (Cheminements Éditions, 1998), Claude Papin described Jean as “le pape de la viticulture”, and listed this viticultural pope alongside the most influential figures in the history of wine in Anjou, including Dominique Jaudeau of Château de la Roulerie, Jean Baumard of Domaine des Baumard and René Renou.
Jean and his wife Blanche Renou had several children, although the relationships between father and sons were perhaps not always ideal. Finding it impossible to work with Jean, one son left Bonnezeaux to seek his fortune elsewhere. Having initially toyed with the idea of emigrating to the USA he was ultimately unable to do so, having been refused a visa, and instead he took up work at Château Pavie in St Emilion.
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