List of products by brand DOMAINE LES CLOS MAURICE
Established in Varrains at the heart of the Saumurois, Domaine les Clos Maurice cultivates 21 hectares in biodynamy on clay-limestone soils underlain by tuffeau, producing Cabernet Franc reds and Chenin Blanc whites of notable aromatic precision and genuine terroir character.
Over two centuries of viticulture in Varrains
The roots of Domaine les Clos Maurice stretch back to 1783, when the vineyards of Varrains were already shaped by tuffeau — the soft, porous rock that defines the subsoil of the Saumurois and lends its wines a mineral freshness unlike anywhere else in the Loire Valley. For more than two centuries, successive generations tended these plots, preserving the identity of the land and a viticultural tradition predating the French Revolution.
In 1997, Mickaël Hardouin, son of Maurice after whom the estate is named, assumed responsibility for the domaine. His arrival marked a deepening of commitment: a gradual shift towards more respectful farming, guided by the conviction that the tuffeau terroir had more to say when the soil was allowed to live. This found formal expression in 2012 with organic certification, and in 2021 with biodynamic certification — a rigorous process demanding attention to lunar cycles, soil vitality, and the holistic health of the vineyard ecosystem.
Tuffeau soils and the character of the Saumurois
The 21 hectares sit on clay-limestone soils over a tuffeau subsoil — the soft chalky tufa that gives Saumur its distinctive underground cellars. Tuffeau retains moisture in dry summers, drains freely in wet seasons, and imparts a cool mineral tension through both the Cabernet Franc reds and Chenin Blanc whites. Biodynamic farming, by maintaining soil structure and microbial life, is particularly well suited to preserving this natural balance between richness and freshness.
Biodynamic farming and the winemaking approach
Since biodynamic certification in 2021, the estate works without synthetic inputs, applying biodynamic preparations and following a planting calendar in vineyard and cellar alike. In the winery: minimal intervention, respect for fermentation rhythms, and an élevage calibrated to express each plot rather than impose a house style. The result is a range — red, white, rosé and sparkling — that speaks clearly of Saumur and the tuffeau terroir of Varrains.
The wine range at Domaine les Clos Maurice
The estate produces wines across four colours from the two varieties that define the Saumurois:
- Red (Cabernet Franc): structured, mineral Saumur reds with cool-fruit precision — suited to the cellar as well as the table.
- White (Chenin Blanc): dry and off-dry whites of real depth, combining Chenin's natural acidity with the chalky freshness of the tuffeau subsoil.
- Rosé: fresh, precise rosés from Cabernet Franc, reflecting the estate's biodynamic approach in their clarity and definition.
- Sparkling: traditional-method sparkling wines from the Saumur appellation, where tuffeau provides ideal conditions for long, slow lees ageing.
Why we have selected Domaine les Clos Maurice
At Halles Quercamps, we do not list biodynamic estates simply for the certification. What drew us to Domaine les Clos Maurice is the coherence between farming philosophy and what ends up in the glass: wines that are precise, mineral, and genuinely expressive of Saumur and the tuffeau terroir of Varrains. The conversion has been gradual and serious — organic from 2012, biodynamic from 2021 — and it shows in the vitality and definition of the wines across the range. The reds pair beautifully with roast lamb or mature hard cheeses; the whites are a natural companion to river fish or goat's cheese. A cellar address we follow with genuine attention.
Explore the wines of Domaine les Clos Maurice
Browse the full selection of reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines from this biodynamic Saumur estate below.
