Thibaud Boudignon Savennires Clos de Fremine 2023

Variety:Chenin Blanc
Country, Region: France, Loire ValleyAppellation:Savennires

This site adjoins Clos de la Hutte separated only by stone walls surrounding each Clos and a tiny road between them. Planted to 1.5 ha of vines from a massale selection, the original material comes from vines of more than 100 years old. Sloping towards the Loire, a fine cover of sand has been blown over the underlying schist for many millennia, conveying a silky elegance to the resulting wine. As such it generally shows more immediacy than Clos de la Hutte and can be approached a little earlier. Distinctive, pure and utterly compelling.

2022 review ‘The2022 Savennires Clos de Fremine has purity and tranquility; it’s a cloud of Chenin Blanc blossoming in the mouth. There were a lot of grapes that didn’t make the grade in 2022 due to the hot, dry conditions of the season, but the strict sorting implemented by Boudignon and team appears to have done the trick. The wine is gently fresh, but a salty line provides persistence. An appetizing fragrance of chamomile, honey and nectarine lingers long in the mouth. Drink 2025-2037.’ 94 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, May 2024.

Thibaud Boudignon

‘The three wines of Boudignon were the best drychenins that I tasted at the Salon of Angers, we are at the level of 1er Cru and Grand Cru Burgundy.’Michel Bettane

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 Philippe Charlopin in Gevrey Chambertin, Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux (amongst others) and also in Australia he has been (since 2007) the winemaker for Chateau Soucherie in Coteau du Layon making a range of dry and sweet wines for that large prestigious property.

With a total of just 7 hectares of vines he has gradually bought and planted several prime parcels in the small Savennieres appellation including a parcel which borders Baumard’s Clos St Yves vineyard (not far from the famous LaRoche-aux-Moines vineyard). He has also planted another vineyard, Le Clos de Fremine, just south of Savennieres near the village of La Possonnire 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 is regulated by thermal energy which is submerged below the ground around the winery. Given the small size of the winery it is clear that he intends to concentrate on small quantities of chenin blanc which are already pushing the boundaries of what has been accepted as possible with this variety.

Working organically in the vineyards he harvests by hand making successive tries throughout each vineyard ending with yields that are much lower than the AOC rules. 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. This results in wines of striking purity, depth and intensity, with each wine clearly reflecting its particular terroir. They 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 sell out quickly each year.