About
Thibaud Boudignon is one of the new young stars of the Loire Valley based in Savennieres. He also owns two small vineyards across the river on the south side of the Loire in the Anjou. Having worked with some of the great estates of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Loire and also in Australia, Thibaud has built a wealth of experience without having been born into a wine producing family. In 2008 he decided to establish his own estate in Savennieres beginning with 3.5 ha of old vines planted on exceptional terroirs in Anjou and Savennieres.
Now with a total of 7.5 hectares of vines he has gradually bought and planted several prime parcels in the small Savennieres appellation including a 0.5ha parcel called La Vigne Cendrée (planted with massale selection vines in 2015) which borders Baumard's Clos St Yves vineyard (not far from the famous La Roche-aux-Moines vineyard). He has also planted another vineyard, Le Clos de Fremine, just south of Savennieres near the village of La Possonnière with sandy soil and across the road is his main vineyard Clos de la Hutte beside which he has built a remarkable small and modern winery which has its temperature and humidity regulated by a thermal energy system which is buried below the ground around the winery.
In 2020 he started to plant the vineyard called Clos Devant le Jeu just down the tiny lane from Le Clos de Fremine. The soil in Clos Devant le Jeu shows a lot of grey schist with a darker profile compared to the finer sandier soil of Clos de Fremine. The remaining half of this vineyard was planted in 2023 making 2 ha in this vineyard. All vines are planted from a variety of massale selection coming from some of the best estates of the Loire giving very small berries and yields.
Clos de la Hutte was historically regarded among the best sites of the appellation and had been an old religious site. Thibaud is aiming to bring this historically highly regarded site back to prominence so that it might sit alongside Roche aux Moines and Coulee de Serrant as one of the future Grand cru vineyards in Savennieres in years to come. Within the the Clos de la Hutte vineyard he has close-planted un-grafted franc de pied vines on the highest sandiest part of that vineyard from which he will soon release another wine. Given the small size of the winery it is clear that he intends to concentrate on small quantities so these wines will always remain very confidential in quantity. The small winery itself is remarkable as he is able to precisely control temperature and humidity by thermal regulation from a vast system buried in the ground surrounding the winery enabling optimum temperature and humidity all throughout the year.
Working biodynamically in the vineyards, during the growing season he employs one person per hectare to manage the vines. In the winery the grapes are whole bunch pressed with no settling and the juice kept cold before starting a long slow fermentation. He vinifies with natural yeasts and ages the wines on lees with minimal SO2 in a mixture of barrels ranging from 300-600 litres. There are hogsheads, cigares, puncheons and small 600 litre foudres from the highly regarded Austrian cooper, Stockinger. Ultimately though, new oak influence is not a part of the style sought, resulting in wines of striking purity, depth and intensity, with each wine clearly reflecting its particular terroir. These are really profound wines with terrific freshness and structure that have the capacity to age well for many years.
All the white wines are 100% Chenin Blanc. Availability is very limited and the wines tend to sell out quickly each year. These are simply some of the most remarkable wines we represent.
2023 Anjou Rose (Cab Franc/Gamay)
Substantially Cabernet Franc (80%), with some Grolleau (20%), from 25+ year-old vines, grown on shallow soils of grey schist, rhyolite and sand. Cool-fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts for 2-3 weeks, followed by maturation in tank for 4 to 6 months before bottling. Malolactic conversion is inhibited to produce a fresh, vibrant, yet textural rosé, with good length and intriguing mineral complexity. Vibrant pink colour, this rose is made by direct pressing and vinified like a white wine to capture salinity and structure. No malo, yet lovely texture and tension, finishing dry.
Vinous review by Billy Norris
Published in May 2025
‘The 2024 Rosé de Loire is a deeply characterful wine, absolutely bursting at the seams with Cabernet Franc signatures. Lavender, strawberry, lemongrass, tobacco and white pepper run through, but what’s most impressive here is the textural seamlessness and inner harmony. This is a classy, extremely well-made wine that speaks in a distinctive dialect.’
91 points
2022 Anjou Blanc
From 40 year-old vines, planted at 8000 vines/ha on shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite. Fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts for 2-3 weeks, followed by maturation in 300L and 750L barrels (30% new) for 15-18 months. Since Thibaud has moved into his new winery just 2 years ago this wine has moved up a few notches in depth and complexity. The oak integration is now perfect to the point of being invisible serving only to add another layer to the tight citric core of fruit. This is pure pleasure from the first taste. To be enjoyed in the first 5 or so years. This wine pushes the boundaries of Anjou in a very positive direction, the resulting wines are crystalline pure.
The Wine Advocate review by Yohan Castaing
Published in January 2024
‘The 2022 Anjou Blanc from Thibaud Boudignon reveals a perfumed, exotic bouquet with aromas of green mango, pineapple, pear and spices intertwined with a touch of toast. More depth and fleshier than the 2021, it’s medium-bodied, perfectly balanced with a seamless, layered texture and a delicately bitter finish. 30,000 bottles produced. Drink 2023-2030.’
93 points
Vinous review by Rebecca Gibb MW
Published in May 2024
'The 2022 Anjou Blanc is very restrained, with a delicate perfume of chamomile, spearmint and nectarine. There's a round richness to the wine's mid-palate, but it feels oh-so quiet. It's not showy but restrained, elegant and fine-boned, which is quite the feat in this dry, warm year. Despite no malolactic, the acidity is relatively low analysis-wise, but you don't feel it; it remains finely poised.'
92 points
2022 Anjou Blanc ‘a Francoise’
Starting with 2021 vintage this cuvee will be aged for two extra years.
From a parcel of 40 year-old vines in St-Lambert-du-Lattay, planted at 8000 vines/ha on shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite. Native yeast fermented in wood including some 300L cigares, used to build lees complexity. Maturation in these and 700L demi-muids (30% new) for 15–18 months. Named in honour of his mother Françoise, who passed away when Thibaud was 17, and his father François. This is chenin blanc at its most electric, so long and focussed yet detailed and with explosive power. Anjou has come of age with this wine - this is a wine to sit comfortably alongside more famous appellations and producers. If you can find more profound chenin than this be sure to let us know.
Vinous review by Rebecca Gibb MW
Published in July 2024
‘Made from a small parcel in the village of Saint-Lambert, the 2022 Anjou Blanc à Francois(e) is a mouth-lling style without any heaviness. The generosity of the 2022 season has been curbed, and there's a nervousness and slightly reductive nature that keeps it tight. Expect an attractive sourness from the acidity and salinity. The nish has a nice twist of savory character with 20% new oak (500-liter and cigar format). Time is needed here to ameliorate.’
93 points