Château de Coulaine Chinon - Bonnaventure

Jean Bonnaventure cultivates 19 hectares of vines in Beaumont-en-Véron, within the Chinon appellation of the Loire Valley. The estate benefits from a continental climate with Atlantic influence, and the vineyards are planted on clay-limestone and sandstone soils over a porous chalk bedrock known as tuffeau. The vines grow on south-facing hillsides at an altitude of 50 to 110 meters. Certified organic since 1997, the domaine follows a philosophy of minimal intervention and respect for the land. 

Château de Coulaine is a historic estate where the De Bonnaventure family has made wine continuously since 1300. The family resides in a Gothic château, largely built between 1460 and 1470, with later 19th-century additions. Beneath the estate lies a deep network of hidden cellars, their entrance camouflaged by ivy, where the wines are aged in barrel. 

The domaine produces a range of wines, including a generic cuvée and four small, site-specific bottlings. One of these is Clos de Turpenay, a remarkable vineyard that uniquely survived the devastation of phylloxera in the 1870s. This single hectare was passed down to Jean’s parents, Pascale and Étienne, in 1988. They became pioneers of organic viticulture in Chinon, earning certification in 1997. Since taking over in 2013, Jean has upheld the estate’s commitment to quality and sustainability.

Clos de Turpenay is made from 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from 30- to 60-year-old vines planted on a steep, south-facing hillside. The soil consists of sand, limestone, and yellow ‘millarge,’ a distinctive substrate derived from fossil-rich sands. Fermentation takes place in vat, followed by aging in four- to five-year-old 400-liter barrels. The wine presents vibrant red fruit aromas and a distinctive saline, mineral character from the limestone bedrock. It has remarkable structure, with ripe tannins and impressive length, making it suitable for drinking now or cellaring until at least 2030.