Noelle and Michel Keating: Bourgueil's newest garagistes

 Michael Keating, with his wife Noelle, the new 

proprietors of 0.123 hectares of Bourgueil

Michael as standing at the northern end of the parcel. 

In October 2017 CRM and I visited with Michael Keating their prospective vineyard purchase.  So we are very pleased that the deal has gone through today.

Their new vineyard is in the commune of Restingé just to the west of the small road that leads northwards from the main D35, that runs east west through the appellation. The land is just up from Domaine Catherine and Pierre Breton but before you reach the Caslot family at Domaine de la Chevalerie.  

The vines are just at the top end of the gravel soils and the base of the limestone coteaux. These vines used to belong to Pierre-Jacques Druet, who sadly went bust in March 2016. A great shame as Pierre-Jacques was a very good producer but not a good financial manager and he became an unreliable supplier.  

After a life spent mainly abroad in the financial world, Michael and Noelle have retired to the town of Bourgueil turning their holiday home into a permanent one. They have become very involved in the vinous life of Bourgueil

Noelle and Michael will be partnered by Aurélien Revillot, an impressive young producer who has just over 2.5 hectares of vines. Aurelien works for the Caslots during the week. 

The plan is to grub up the existing vines and replant. The photos show that the present vines are in a poor state of repair.  

 At the northern end of the parcel

 The 2017 crop wasn't harvested this year

 

 Looking northwards up the plot

Pierre Caslot (Bourgueil) – disparition d'un grand personnage

Pierre Caslot @Domaine de la Chevalerie, 

Restigné, Bourgueil with some binettes: June 2014

CRM and I are very sad to learn today that Pierre Caslot (Domaine de la Chevalerie), one of the great personalities of the Loire, lost his four-year fight with cancer yesterday. It started as prostate cancer but despite treatment it spread elsewhere in his body. On Thursday he had an operation to remove a growth in his throat. The fact that his doctors had decided to operate seemed to be a hopeful sign. Very sadly this was to prove a false hope. He was 62.

As well as being a fine producer – Domaine de Chevalerie is among the top Loire estates and has long been organic – Pierre was a larger than life character, full of fun and generously wanted to share his passion for wine and life itself, conscious that he was part of a 400-year-long family tradition. Pierre was the inspiration for the annual Bourgueillothérapie, which I'm sure will continue in his honour and memory.

During the growing season Pierre would regularly organise les journées binettes (hoes) described as 'scéances de remise en forme en plein air'. These days in the vines helped people to get fit but also helped to keep the weeds in the vineyards under control.

I last saw Pierre on Thursday 9th October during the harvest enjoying lunch in the autumn sunshine with a glass of his Bourgueil rosé. He lived long enough to know that 2014 his last vintage would be a good one and to see the harvest finished. We have treasured memories of Pierre.  

Our sincere condolences to Pierre's family, especially daughter and son – Stéphanie and Emmanuel.  

Santé Pierre!      

Pierre, Stéphanie and Emmanuel 

with their binettes in the vines at Chevalerie: June 2014

 

Pierre Caslot: September 2012 

Pierre tasting

 The remarkable Caslot caves