Thibault Stéphan ‘Faites Entrer la Cuvée’ Rouge 2020

Location: France, Loire, Puy-Notre-Dame

Winemaker: Thibault Stéphan

Grapes: Cabernet Franc

Winemaking Style: Clean, fresh, fruity wines. Continuing to evolve, learn and adapt, both professionally and because of climate change.

From the Importer Terrestrial: After training under Loire icons Charles Joguet and Pierre Guiberteau, Thibault Stéphan acquired a small collection of vines in Le Puy-Notre-Dame, a small and little-known appellation to the south of Saumur, producing his first vintage in 2017. A native of Brittany with no family connection to the wine trade, Thibault came to the Loire in search of a way to break into the scene. Hard work eventually paid off, and he now steers a small but formidable domaine in the center of one of the most exciting areas for up-and coming winemakers in France.

Thibault’s lineup of wines – a lone Chenin Blanc and a few different expressions of Cabernet Franc – all come from certified organic estate vines and are vinified with minimal intervention. He usually adds a small dose of SO2 at bottling (never before) and has experimented with 0/0 cuvées in the past. Thibault is part of a small group of young, talented, and like-minded vignerons (including Emmanuel Haget) who are leading the way to put this humble corner of the Loire valley on the map.