Les P’tites Choses
WINEMAKER
Corentin Le Bolloch
TYPE OF AGRICULTURE
Organic
VINEYARD AREA
1.1 ha
COUNTRY, REGION, SUBREGION
France, Loire, Anjou
In 2015, Corentin Le Bolloch left his home in Brittany for the summer, to help a friend with harvest in Anjou. Summer rolled into autumn, and Corentin never left. He set up shop as a freelance viticulture assistant to keep himself in work over the winters whilst on the hunt for vines of his own.
Corentin developed his vinification style and learnt the most under the wing of Camille & Mathias Marquet at Chateau L’Estignac. For 4 consecutive years he would travel south to Perigord for each harvest, offering his services through the winter to watch their wines develop. In 2018, Camille & Mathias recommended Corentin to a friend of theirs back in Anjou, who was in need of some help looking after his vineyard whilst he managed a research department across five universities.
Corentin agreed to help manage Sebastien Fleuret’s vineyard of old Cab Franc & Chenin Blanc in Beaulieu sur Layon. Whilst at work there he would catch himself daydreaming at the thought of one day owning this perfect plot: a manageable size, perfect location, beautiful view. Corentin worked the season for Sebastien, and continued his slow search for vines like these to call his own.
Cut to early 2019, and Sebastien called Corentin to offer him that dream plot he had been looking after through 2018. Nervous at finally taking the plunge, he waited a twitchy 24 hours before jumping on the opportunity to become the custodian of these old vines planted on sand and schist. Working organically, with no additions in the cellar, except for tiny amounts of sulphur if necessary at bottling.
Currently working from an old winery in Faye d’Anjou, with fibreglass tanks, old barrels, and a manual basket press, Corentin bottled his first cuvee in July 2020, a carbonic maceration Cab Franc, and after a long, slow fermentation will be bottling his 2019 Chenin Blanc in Spring 2021.
He has recently purchased another hectare of Cab Franc & Chenin in Faye d’Anjou from his friend Xavier Marchais, so is looking forward to doubling his tiny production!
For any UK wholesale and stock enquiries, please contact hello@winesutb.com
WINES
Corentin’s first cuvée. 100% Cabernet Franc from 60 year old vines grown on decomposed schist sands, clay and schist bedrock. A 9 day carbonic maceration before ageing 6 months in small old barrels. Bottled with 20mg/l of sulphur in July 2020.