Over a lovely meal at a local Parisian restaurant, Ivan Massonnat took a break from his hectic schedule to answer our questions about his projects. A strong notion has stayed with him since creating Belargus nearly 10 years ago – to contribute to bringing Loire Valley wines to the international stage, while shining a light on the region’s outstanding terroirs. His friendship with Evelyne de Pontbriand, the late owner of Domaine du Closel, spurred him on to create a new era at the iconic Savennières estate.
The news was leaked in May 2026 that Ivan Massonnat, the Belargus founder and owner of Domaine de Beauséjour in Chinon, was expanding to Savennières by taking over Domaine du Closel. Since Evelyne de Pontbriand passed away in 2024, the different parts of the family could not decide the next step for the estate, and it was ultimately put up for sale at the start of 2026. Several offers were made to buy the property, and it was Ivan Massonnat’s one that came out on top. “Domaine du Closel’s history is intertwined with that of Savennières. The idea behind this project of mine is to bring Closel back to its rightful place, and the whole of Anjou will benefit,” explained Ivan Massonnat.
The family of Evelyne de Pontbriand is intrinsically liked with the history of the appellation. Bernard Barbat du Closel, who was the mayor of Savennières for 40 years in the early 20th century, contributed to creating the framework and regulations for the AOC, which was created in 1952. His niece Michèle Bazin de Jessey, Evelyne’s mother, was the first woman elected to be the head of an appellation and also left her mark on the area’s winemaking history before passing the reins on to her daughter. Evelyne de Pontbriand contributed to starting the Paulée d’Anjou and to creating the Académie du Chenin. She also presided over the AOC, travelling around different wine fairs in France and beyond to shine light on its wines.
What does the future hold for Domaine du Closel?
The estate currently covers around a dozen hectares on amazing south-east facing slopes mainly around the village of Savennières. The Papillon vein is its beating heart, a magnificent terroir that Ivan Massonnat would like to help restore to its honour. Antoine Fardeau, the production director at the estate since 2022, has already started exploring the vineyard plots while refining the style of the wines to achieve fresher ripeness, free from botrytis. Moreover, one of Closel’s wines, the 2022 Savennières La Jalousie, is included in Wine Spectator’s rankings of the top 100 wines from the vintage.
Ivan Massonnat has already invested in it to give it the means to progress further. A comprehensive study of the terroir has been initiated to extend Antoine Fardeau’s work and it has already led to identifying 12 plots with unique profiles. Ivan Massonnat wants to go even further and “to look beyond the map, as a place’s identity is forged through a blend of elements”. The estate’s new owner will keep Le Papillon wine, a symbol of the property and a fine example of Chenin Blanc. “Savennières is structured around three slopes: Serrant, La Roche aux Moines, and Le Papillon. We will keep Le Papillon wine, all the others will be blends and we will build a new range of Chenin Blanc as dry, medium-dry and sweet wines which will reflect the history of the AOC and the terroirs from which they come.” Ultimately, the team is debating creating a new flagship wine for the estate, intended to express the quintessence of the Savennières appellation. The wine will be produced from the finest plots, starting with those located just above the village. And as Ivan Massonnat never stops, work has also been undertaken to “change everything in the cellar” by integrating new barrels, as well as the old press from Belargus, where the next harvest will be vinified with brand-new machinery, with the work there expected to be completed shortly.
Talking about the governance of the estate, Ivan Massonnat said “I would like to act with the family and for this to be a shared adventure.” Discussions are ongoing to bring together the different branches of the family, who still own the vines and buildings, to reinvigorate the project with a collective energy, which several other great families in the world of wine could soon join. To follow closely!
