Marie Thibault ‘Premier Nez’

Marie Thibault ‘Premier Nez’ – a harmoniously suave expression of Chenin Blanc that never fails to brighten one’s day. Plump and textured and brimming with patience, this is a wine that unfurls immediately. Its true nature reveals itself as soon as the cork is pulled; an ecstatic nose coils outwards powerfully. The 40 year-old vines are hand-harvested, grown on white clay and limestone. The wine itself sees roughly fourteen months of elevage in either demi-muids or barriques, gradually developing a robust sleekness. Initially, one is struck by a wafting array of ripe and dried citrus, mingled with touches of hazelnut and juicy yellow pears. Hastily following suit is a comforting aroma of toasted brioche which transfers onto the palette. A delicate underbelly of aniseed and a pure mineral detox linger on the finish, those vibrant orchard fruits simply swaddling one’s tongue.

Marie Thibault does not hail from a winemaking family yet early on, considered it to be a fascinating pursuit. Having earned degrees in oenology and biology, she began making wine in the early 2000s. Thibault completed stints with François Chidaine in Montlouis, whereupon she discovered her love for the Chenin Blanc grape. She founded her own 3.5 hectare vineyard in 2011 and immediately began farming organically. Her domaine is situated in Azay-le-Rideau, with a small parcel on gentle, windy slopes, characterised by the white clay and limestone soils. Her wines are authentically bold and see no chemicals or additives other than a minute dose of SO2 if any is to be added at all.

Marie Thibault ‘Premier Nez’ – a delectable vessel of unbridled balance. A palatial example of humble symmetry.