On the plateau of Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay in Anjou, two childhood friends decided that their weekend passion for natural wine deserved a permanent home. François Maudet and Romain Jos had spent time learning the ropes in the vineyards of Jean-Christophe Garnier before acquiring their own vines — and that mentorship shows in every bottle they make.
Backstory
Le Temps d'Aimer, which translates roughly as "the time to love," began as a part-time project while both men held day jobs. Over time the 2.7-hectare estate on the Saint-Lambert plateau became their main focus. The name captures exactly what the wines ask of the people who drink them: patience, attention, and a willingness to be present.
The Region
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay sits at the heart of the Anjou plateau in the Loire Valley, where the soils are dominated by schist and slate. These formations give the wines of this corner of the Loire their signature mineral thread — a cool, stony quality that runs through reds and whites alike.
Vineyards and Farming
The estate is made up of old vines ranging from 50 to 60 years of age alongside younger plantings of 10 to 25 years. The varieties span Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, and Pineau d'Aunis for reds, along with rare Chenin Blanc vines for white production. Farming is done with minimal intervention, respecting the natural biodiversity of the plateau.
Winemaking
Maudet and Jos vinify their wines with a light hand, choosing infusion-style extraction over heavy maceration to let the minerality of the slate soils speak clearly. Indigenous yeasts drive fermentation, no sulfites are added, and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. The result is wines that are fruity and open-hearted without sacrificing structure.
The Wines
The portfolio includes Sorcellerie (100% Chenin Blanc), Brin-de-Zinc, Malice, and Pas Folle la Guêpe, each a direct expression of the slate terroir. Some cuvées are released in magnum-only formats, and the same wine may appear in multiple bottlings to highlight different expressions from the same vintage.
