Le P’tit Domaine Saumur-Champigny, Le Coup d’Douze

This wine offers a beautiful balance of red fruit, acidity, and structure. Juicy notes of red cherry and plum take center stage, enlivened by a refreshing acidity that brings brightness and energy. The fine-grained tannins provide a velvety texture and a silky mouthfeel, while the finish is long and satisfying, leaving impressions of ripe fruit with a subtle herbal edge.  

Richard Desouche established *Le P’tit Domaine* in 2006, carving out a niche in Saumur Champigny through meticulous care and a vision rooted in organic practices. Before founding his Domaine, he worked with renowned producers, including Didier Sanzay and Clos Rougeard, where he is still the vineyard manager and a close collaborator with Nady Foucault. His journey began with small parcels—0.6ha of Chenin Blanc and 0.4ha of Cabernet Franc—restoring the vineyards, eliminating herbicides, and transitioning to organic viticulture by 2009, with certification following in 2013.  

Over time, Desouche has carefully pieced together 4.5ha of exceptional terroirs across Saumur Champigny, Dampierre, and Varrains, including his pride and joy, *Clos Lintier*. Since 2017, he has operated from his own facilities, complete with a deep tuffeau cellar ideal for slow maturation. His Burgundian-inspired approach to vinification emphasizes purity and freshness, with long macerations in concrete vats or used barrels.  

This 100% Cabernet Franc is sourced from vines aged 10 to 40 years, grown on clay-limestone soils. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts, followed by 10–15 days of maceration on skins in concrete vats. The wine is lightly filtered and aged in the same vats for 5–6 months, preserving its vibrant character. Despite his growing reputation, Desouche’s production remains small, making each bottle a rare and rewarding find.