Domaine de Noiré

Chinon, this little jewel among the many appellations along the Loire river. Just over 2,000 hectares and 200 growers. Chenin blanc and cabernet franc. Of course we had to have a producer in Chinon! After a few years of searching - there are many talented producers to be tempted by - we settled on Domaine de Noiré. A 14-hectare estate spread across three soil types. Here we find dominance of both clay-sandy soil and limestone. This opens the door to many styles. The organically certified estate has been owned and run since 2001 by Odile and Jean-Max Manceau. The work in the vineyard is meticulous: defoliation, thinning, and other measures to keep yields low (max 40 hl/ha). Harvesting is done by hand, and the goal is to make "traditional wines." This also means that some wines are made in amphorae and without any added sulphur or yeast.