2019 Anjou - Celsiane
2019 Anjou - Celsiane
A more open, fruitier expression of Thomas’ Chenin on schist. Fresh, pithy citrus and some nice structure.
Cuvée: Celsiane
Style: Still
Colour: White
Grapes/Blend: Chenin
ABV: 14.10%
Vintage: 2019
Winemaking: Manual harvest. Direct pressing. Vinification with natural yeasts. Aged in vats, on the lees for 11 months. Unfiltered, racked before bottling.
Total Sulphur: 24 mg/l
Soil: Schist and sandstone
Thomas: ‘I have 5 different plots of Chenin across Saint Aubin & Rochefort, and 4 of them are picked for Celsiane. In Saint Aubin the soils are schist, with lots of quartz. In Rochefort-sur-Loire it's schist again with compact sand, and something that looks like black schist.
There's 2 plots of younger 30 year old vines; one picked from each location and 2 plots of older vines planted a little after the Second World War, again one in each location. I pick about 1.5 hectares in total for Celsiane. It has an elevage on the lees in tank for 11 months, and I bottled just before harvest in 2020, it has 24mg/l total sulphites.’
Thomas Boutin started his own winemaking project in 2008, with only 1.8 hectares. In 2011, he inherited a compact winery and vines from his mentor, and has progressively built up the number of hectares. He farms 2 hectares in Rochefort-sur-Loire and 1 hectare in Saint Aubin. He is evolving as a winemaker, and experiments whilst learning and finding his style.