Why it matters
The producer
EARL Demois is the estate name attached to Vignoble Fabien Demois, located in Cravant-les-Côteaux at the heart of the Chinon AOC. The red wines centre on Cabernet Franc, while Les Grands Bournais is made from Chenin. The estate's work follows autonomy, respect for natural cycles and circular ecology.
Fabien Demois took over the family estate after growing up among the vineyards of Cravant. The wines are direct in their grape expression, with named Cabernet Franc cuvées alongside a white Chenin bottling.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Between the Vienne and Loire, the property sits on an alluvial plain in Cravant-les-Côteaux. An alluvial plain is river deposited ground, giving the estate a broad river landscape rather than a named hillside parcel.
Chinon AOC provides the regulated wine place, while the range separates by grape. Cabernet Franc appears in the red wines, and Chenin appears in Les Grands Bournais. The village and appellation place both colours within the same Loire setting while keeping their grape roles clear on the bottle.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The estate covers approximately 30 hectares in the Chinon appellation. The vines were converted to organic agriculture upon Fabien Demois's arrival, followed by biodynamic certification. Animals and biodiversity are also part of the farm's work.
Cuvée des Templiers comes from clay silica terroir and old vine parcels approximately 60 years old. The grapes undergo complete destemming and a four week maceration before 12 months of ageing in new barrels. Only the best barrels enter the final cuvée. Complete destemming removes stems, while maceration extracts colour and tannin from the grape skins. New barrels add oak aroma and soften texture through oxygen exchange.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range divides by colour, grape and bottle position. The red wines include Vieilles Vignes and Les Deux Rives, both made from Cabernet Franc. Les Grands Bournais is the white Chenin cuvée.
Cuvée des Templiers occupies a separate place in the range because it is made only in exceptional vintages. It is a Cabernet Franc bottling from old vine parcels, with the final wine narrowed to the strongest barrels from the élevage.