Thibaud Boudignon Savennières 'Clos de la Hutte' 2018

Thibaud Boudignon is transforming prized Chenin Blanc vineyards that had fallen into neglect into the source of some of the Loire’s greatest white wines once again.

While researching the lieux-dits of Savennières, Thibaud discovered a reference to ‘Clos de la Hutte’ – a walled vineyard historically regarded alongside ‘La Roche aux Moines’ and ‘Coulée de Sérrant’ as among the appellation’s finest terroirs. Finding the 1.5ha plot on the site of a former monastery, he used his savings to restore the land and plant it with cuttings from Vouvray’s celebrated Domaine Huet in 2011.

Eschewing the industrial farming methods that have become rife in the region, Thibaud farms 7ha of vines organically and with biodynamic treatments. The domaine is among the last to harvest each year, its grapes picked by hand at optimal maturity and never with botrytis.

Sourced from 35+-year-old Chenin Blanc vines and aged in a combination of large barrels and Stockinger oak ‘cigars’, Thibaud’s exceptional value Anjou Blanc shows ripe orchard fruit alongside elegance and precision. ‘Clos de la Hutte’ matches power and mineral depth with breathtaking purity: a wine that turns heads when young, it gains extraordinary complexity with time in bottle. Just 90 cases are produced each vintage.

Not to be overlooked, Thibaud’s vibrant and gastronomic Rosé de Loire – a blend of 40-year-old Cabernet Franc and Grolleau – offers crunchy red fruit and a lingering, dry finish.

In less than a decade, Boudignon has joined the likes of Nicolas Joly and Eric Morgat in the Savennières top tier. With allocations usually selling out on release, we are delighted to offer these critically acclaimed vintages from the domaine.

Delineated and rippling with tension. Wet stone, chamomile, grapefruit. Long and sleek. 94 Points, Wine Advocate