EMMANUEL HAGET
Saumur Puy Notre Dame
Loire
Emmanuel spent two decades as a geophysicist, travelling the world and marvelling at its wonders, carried along by the fast pace and immediate pleasures of that life.
Over time, however, a deeper longing for reflection and purpose replaced his desire for constant motion. He sought something more enduring, a life in harmony with nature, grounded in humility and respect.
That search led him to Le Puy-Notre-Dame, a quiet, lesser-known corner of the Loire Valley, about 20 minutes south of Saumur. After two years of training in organic viticulture alongside Jacky and Véronique Ripoche of Domaine des Noades, Emmanuel was offered a rare opportunity: in 2016, he took over part of the vines and cellar of Philippe Gourdon, a pioneer of biodynamic farming in the Saumurois.
2017 showed the results of his first vintage, and since then, he has carefully carried forward the domaine’s traditions, maintaining biodynamic practices in existing parcels while converting every new plot he acquires.
Today, Emmanuel farms five parcels, totalling roughly four hectares, planted with Chenin, Pineau d’Aunis, and Cabernet Franc — the sole variety permitted by the Puy-Notre-Dame appellation. His holdings span the contrasting terroirs of “white Anjou,” where chalky limestone soils, shaped by the Loire’s ancient course to the Atlantic, give the wines finesse and lift, and “black Anjou,” where darker schist soils tend to yield Cabernet Francs of greater intensity and depth.
In both vineyard and cellar, Emmanuel’s methods reflect patience and precision. Fermentations rely exclusively on indigenous yeasts and proceed without temperature control. For the reds, macerations are typically brief for lighter wines, while the Cabernet Francs and AOC cuvées may see extended macerations of over 20 days, but always handled with care and gentle extraction to preserve balance and elegance.
Saumur, Anitya
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Chenin Blanc
ABV 13.5%
Soils Clay, Schist, Silex
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking The grapes come from a single block of 30 year old vines planted on the darker soils of “Black Anjou.” After direct pressing, fermentation begins in tank before the wine is transferred by gravity into 400L barrels, where the sugars finish fermenting and the wine rests on its lees for one year. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfur.
Tasting Note Bold, yet with a subtle finish that lingers beautifully. Riper notes of golden apple and tropical fruit combine perfectly with the grape’s natural high acidity and the mineral finish.
Loustic
Vintage 2024
Style Red
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis
ABV 11.5%
Soils Silt, Clay, Sand, Flint, Chalk
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking The fruit comes from the older vines planted in the Les Vigneaux lieu-dit for the Cabernet Franc. The Pineau d’Aunis’ juice is blended with whole clusters of Cabernet Franc grapes when they arrive. Grapes are macerated for 6 days before pressing, sugars are then finished in tank where the wine stays for 7-8 months. No fining nor filtering.
Tasting Note Crunchy blackcurrants and blueberry fruit lend to aromatic herbs and and crushed green pepper notes. The palate it is light and lifted and light enough invite and chill.
Palabres
Vintage 2023
Style Red
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Pineau d’Aunis
ABV 12.5%
Soils Silt, Clay, Sand, Chalk
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Palabres comes from Manu’s tiny 0.8ha parcel Clos St Jacques which has been re-planted in 2012 in its entirety. Grapes are macerated on the skins for 8 days before pressing, sugars are then finished in tank where the wine stays for 7-8 months. No fining nor filtering.
Tasting Note A bright and racy red that toes the line between a light red and a dark rose. Redcurrant, wild raspberry, sour cherry and that unmistakably peppery quality.
Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, Clos Messemé
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Cabernet Franc
ABV 13.5%
Soils Clay, Sand, White Chalk
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Grapes come from the Clos Messemé vineyard in the heart of Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame. Vines here are approximately 25 years old and delve deep into the chalky soils. Fruit is fully de-stemmed and undergoes a 24-day maceration with light daily pump overs. It is aged for 12 months in old barrels and a further 4 months in tank between racking and bottling.
Tasting Note This is a surprisingly fresh wine, thanks to its calcareous soils. It offers an attractive fruit-forward nose with notes of dark cherry and spice. Clear cut with a distinctive mineral finish.
Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, Chant du Monde
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Cabernet Franc
ABV 13.5%
Soils Schist, Silex, Clay
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking 45-year-old Cabernet Franc planted in the lieu-dit Les Vignaux. The extremely low yields here (22 hl/ha) give the grapes remarkable concentration, allowing Emmanuel to handle them gently while still producing a wine of impressive power. The de-stemmed grapes undergo 22 days of maceration with gentle pump-overs, followed by 18 months on the lees in old barrel, 6 months in tank, and a further 12 months in bottle before release.
Tasting Note
Hydropathe
Vintage 2023
Style Red
Region Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
Varieties Pineau d’Aunis
ABV 12.5%
Soils Silt, Clay, Sand, Chalk
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Emmanuel’s most exclusive bottling, produced exclusively in magnums. This cuvée is made from the same Pineau d’Aunis used for Palabres, but here the grapes are fully de-stemmed and undergo a completely dry carbonic maceration in tank for about a week, with the juice drained daily and redirected to Palabres. This represents the purest expression of carbonic maceration, as fermentation occurs entirely within the individual berries, amplifying the variety’s natural juiciness and vibrant, spicy fruit character.
Tasting Note The result is an ultra-light red wine bursting with juiciness, red forest fruits, a generous dose of strawberry, and a touch of white pepper on the finish.