Marie Thibault
Touraine, Loire, France
Marie Thibault grew up in the Loire Valley but doesn’t come from a winemaking family and it was only after graduation from University with degrees in vegetal biology and Oenology that she pursued making her own wines. She began in 2002 working with François Chidaine in Montlouis, falling in love with Chenin Blanc there and making wine under her own name in 2004. She purchased her own estate in 2010 and converted to organics immediately. She has been certified with Ecocert since 2014.
Her contiguous parcel is situated on limstone and white clay and flint soil slopes in Azay le Rideau, a lesser known appellation within the Touraine AOC in the Loire Valley. Her single parcel is only 4 hectares but the soils are extremely varied and as such so are the grape varieties. She works with Côt (Malbec), Gamay, Grolleau, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon blanc. Most of her vines are at least 50 years old.
To compensate her small production, she buys grapes from organic estates close by, which she herself harvests and vinifies in her cellar. She shares this negoce activity with her boyfriend Franz Saumon, another fantastic natural grower in the area. The wines see no additives other than a tiny addition of S02 before bottling, if any is added at all.
Cave Se Rebiffe Pet Nat Rose
A rose Petillant Naturel made from Gamay and Grolleau though the makeup changes slightly each year. Its Dry, mineral and fruity with a whole range of red, pink and purple fruit. This is no nonsense, crunchy, delicous quaffer.
Premier Nez
Chenin Blanc. Bone dry with layers of minerality. The wines is aged for 18 months neutral fût and bottled unfiltered.
Grolleau
Marie’s area, Azay-le-Rideau, is the origin of the Grolleau variety. This is a fresh, juicy style of grolleau made with carbonic maceration. More so than her Grandes Vignes blend, Marie’s Grolleau is a vin de soif offering dark fruit and spice but a light body and ample freshness.
Grandes Vignes
Roughly equal parts Gamay and Côt (Malbec) from old vines, though the exact blend changes from vintage to vintage. The grapes are hand de-stemmed and macerated for 45 days. The wine is structured but elegant and graceful. Low in alcohol but punchy and energetic.
Retail
Ellement Wine & Spirits
Jones & Co. Wine Merchants
Kenaston Wine Market
The Winehouse
