Marie Thibault ‘Les Grandes Vignes’ Rouge 2018

Location: France, Loire, Azay-le-Rideau

Winemaker: Marie Thibault

Grapes: Gamay

Soil: Silex

Winemaking: Macerated on the skins for 10 months, with décuvage in July.

From us at M&L: ‘Les Grandes Vignes’ is named for a specific parcel of old vines. Very textured and deep, with a ravishing smokiness backed by earthy red-berried smells and flavors. No need to chill this one; just serve with a simple meal and enjoy on a rainy day/eve or just at the beginning of a summer sunset with a barbecue going.

From the Importer Selection Massale: Not from a winemaking family, but with degrees in biology and oenology, Marie Thibault began making wine in the early 2000s. She worked for a time at François Chidaine in Montlouis, where she fell in love with Chenin Blanc. In 2011, she founded her own 3.5 hectare domaine in Azay-le-Rideau, a lesser known environ of the Touraine appellation. While in some sense this is a new beginning for Marie, she has over a decade of experience making wine and benefits from strong relationships with many growers in the region such as Noëlla Morantin and Frantz Saumon. It sounds cliché, but her passion and energy are infectious; she’s also humble, learning one year to the next how to progress and improve.