Pure Chenin energy. Bright citrus, baked apple, white flowers, and a salty mineral streak that keeps pulling you back in. There’s a beautiful texture underneath—soft and rounded but still full of freshness. Classic Anjou character without feeling traditional or boring. Just a really honest, delicious bottle of Chenin.
Domaine Pic-Épeiche
Jean-Baptiste Peltier has been making wine for years, but the project officially took shape in 2019 when he established Domaine Pic-Épeiche in the Haut-Layon zone of the Anjou within the Loire Valley. Before that, he was already experimenting with small batches of wine, learning from mentors and friends like Patrick Desplats and Jérôme Lambert, while sourcing grapes from Sébastien Gandubert of La Closerie de Belle Poule. By 2020, he had fully stepped into the role of vigneron while still balancing life as a police officer.
The estate is tiny, just 1.5 hectares spread across nearby plots, but every vine is cared for with serious attention. The vineyards are planted on classic Anjou clay-limestone soils with pockets of flint, giving the wines that beautiful combination of freshness, texture, and mineral depth. The Chenin Blanc vines are over 50 years old, while the Cabernet Sauvignon vines approach 40 years of age.
Jean-Baptiste farms with a simple philosophy: interfere as little as possible. No synthetic chemicals, no unnecessary treatments, and a strong focus on healthy soils and biodiversity. He works the vineyards lightly, sometimes using biodynamic practices, and returns what the vines give back by composting and spreading the grape pomace back into the soil.
In the cellar, the same mindset applies. “The less I interfere, the better” is basically the whole approach. Fermentations happen naturally with native yeasts and no sulfur is added. Reds see gentle macerations with minimal extraction before long aging on the lees, while whites are allowed to develop slowly and naturally.
The result is Loire wine with real personality. The Chenins are bright, textured, and full of that salty mineral energy that makes the grape so special. The reds show a fresher, more lifted side of Cabernet—earthy, herbal, and structured without being heavy.
Domaine Pic-Épeiche is a quiet project, but the wines speak loudly. Honest, alive, and completely tied to place.
