Orléans and Orléans-Cléry

Grower Profiles

Vignoble du Chant d’Oiseaux
Young Édouard Montigny joined Jacky Leroux, the cousin of his mother, in 2006. It was Leroux’s last vintage before retiring as a vigneron, although evidence of his continued activity is still here in the bottles of apple juice and tins of asparagus that line the tasting room shelves.

Wine Overview :
He works a total of eleven hectares here, of which eight are rented, mainly from retired growers, with the vines scattered across four communes. The greatest concentration is of Cabernet Franc which account for 4.5ha alone, making him one of the most important producers in the Orléans-Cléry appellation. In addition, there is 2.5ha of Pinot Meunier and 80 ares of Pinot Noir for Orléans red and rosé, and 1.5ha of Chardonnay for white. All the grapes are harvested by machine.

The Wines :
The wines are made in a fairly conventional cellar just across the yard from the house. Fermentation and ageing take place in tank, although the Orléans-Cléry is raised in seven 50 old foudres, which for me only serves to dry the wine out.

The Orléans red and rosé (made using both préssurage direct and the saignée method) are primarily 80% to 95% Pinot Meunier, depending on the vintage. In addition to the AC wines, there is a heady Sauvignon Gris which is bottled as Vin de Pays. The wines here are fairly pedestrian at present as the young Montigny needs to find his feet.   

Édouard Montigny
Vignoble du Chant d’Oiseaux
321 Route des Muids
Mareau-aux-Près
T : + 33 2 38 45 60 31
F : + 33 2 38 45 62 35

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