Domaine Bobinet in Saumur: Wines of Distinct Identity

What does being a winemaker mean to Sébastien Bobinet? “I love being in touch with nature and working the land—it’s something very profound.”

Sébastien Bobinet puts his work philosophy into practice at the family estate

At age 32, Sébastien Bobinet returned to the family estate in Saumur: “We are the eighth generation on the estate,” he explains. “I wanted to return to my roots after spending my entire youth immersed in the excitement of the harvest and the winemaking process.” Sébastien wanted to reconnect with the land, nature, and the open air. In 2002, he settled on the 3 hectares of vineyards in Saumur and immediately began the transition to organic farming at the Bobinet estate. “I committed to the transition to organic farming with the goal of avoiding inputs as much as possible, both in the vineyard and during winemaking,” the winemaker shares. “I also tried my hand at animal-drawn plowing. Right now, we’ve had to put that project on hold, but it will resume very soon.” At Domaine Bobinet, the work philosophy goes far beyond simply respecting the land: “We want to produce wines through work that respects the land, of course, but also work that is socially responsible. Our philosophy is not only focused on the land but also on the people who work with us.”

With Emeline, the Bobinet estate is expanding

When Sébastien met his wife, Émeline Calvez, a sommelier at a Parisian wine shop, the Bobinet estate was given a new lease on life: the winemaking couple expanded the estate, which now covers 8 hectares. “We decided to take on this project together,” says Sébastien, “we wanted to expand the estate while staying true to the same philosophy. ” For two years, the young winemakers worked on their wine ranges across the entire estate. “Today, we’ve divided up the work. I focus more on the vineyards while Émeline works primarily on the winemaking,” explains Sébastien.

Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:

Ruben 2017

Amatéüs Bobi 2016

The Bobinet Estate: Saumur in Every Glass

Sébastien and Émeline grow Cabernet Franc and Chenin. The youngest vines are about 40 years old, while the oldest are up to 80 years old. A deliberate choice for the quality of the wines: “The older the vines, the more character and aroma they bring to the wines because they are more deeply rooted in the terroir and the soil,” the winemaker emphasizes. This is all the more interesting given that the terroir is an inexhaustible source of quality for the vines of Saumur. “We have a limestone subsoil: it’s the bedrock of our region. This limestone brings a tension to the wines, very salty and iodine-like characteristics with aromas reminiscent of flint,” notes Sébastien. “Above the bedrock, we can have anywhere from 40 meters to 1.5 meters of soil, depending on the plot. Sometimes these soils are very loamy; other times they’re more clay-based. It’s this variation in soil that allows us to produce very different wines: aromas of ripe, spicy fruit or fresher fruits like white peach,” explains the passionate winemaker.

Sébastien Bobinet: “We want to make natural, refined winesthat reflect their terroir—wines that are a delight to drink.”

Naturally, the winemakers at Domaine Bobinet therefore produce their wines by plot. The cuvées are then crafted with a sense of logic and consistency across the plots, as Sébastien explains: “The Ruben cuvée, for example, brings together three plots with deep, clay-rich soils.” Certain distinctive and noteworthy plots are vinified separately and become the subject of their own cuvée. “For this reason, we offer many cuvées at the estate,” exclaims Sébastien. “Above all, we strive to produce wines that reflect who we are. They have no equivalent in the sense that we want wines with an identity… that is our own.”

The winemakers at Domaine Bobinet have plenty of projects in the works

Sébastien and Emeline are brimming with ideas and plans to take the Bobinet estate to the next level. This year, they launched a small wine bar: “We really love this venture,” Sébastien exclaims, “it’s been a huge success, so we’re going to keep at it and build on this success.” "As for the vineyard, convinced by organic farming, the young winemakers are already looking ahead. "We’re interested in several agronomic approaches, such as permaculture and biodynamics. It’s incredibly fascinating! We’re currently exploring these methods," the winemaker shares.

What does the 2017 vintage have in store?

“The harvest went wonderfully well. It’s been an absolutely magnificent harvest; we have a beautiful balance between the grapes’ ripeness and acidity, which will allow us to produce fresh wines. The wines will be powerful but not heavy. We’re on track for a vintage with great aging potential. It’s going to be a beautiful vintage, that’s for sure.”