Meet the producer: Thomas Boutin
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.
domaine Thomas Boutin
WINEMAKER
Thomas Boutin
VINEYARD
3 ha, organic
COUNTRY, REGION, SUBREGION
France, Loire, Anjou, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Angers
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.
Having studied enology and worked in larger wineries, he is passionate to keep the approach small scale with minimal intervention. All wines are made without any use of chemicals, are unfined and unfiltered and little use of sulfur.
Tell us about your 2018 harvest: What were your challenges? What went particularly well?
2018 has been difficult but with a good result. We've had loads of rain in June which caused mildew. It stopped in July and the heat allowed us to fight the mildew, which then resulted in a good harvest both quality and quantity wise.
What do you anticipate for the 2019 harvest?
I always wait until September to have a better idea of the end result. August is a really important month when it comes to maturity of the wines. For the moment what I can see is that the buds are developing well from the outside, but I cannot tell yet how good the quality is.
What is your personal favourite vintage you have made to date and why?
I have two: 2012 and 2016 when it comes to quality, even though the yield was very small. I haven't made loads of money but the wines turned out amazing.
Which wines do you enjoy drinking besides your own?
Normally I enjoy drinking full-bodied wines but at the moment I drink light reds. There is no particular region that I prefer, I am more about discovering new wines, especially from outside of France.
Are there any winemakers whose influence has been particularly important?
Benoît Landron has helped me out immensely. We enjoy sharing our wines and I will always be helpful to him as he has helped me to establish myself as a winemaker.
Also, there are other winemakers who have taught me a lot and who are less into natural wines but are still organic certified. For example Benjamin Delobel. There are always more things to learn as there are always new challenges coming up.
What can you tell us about your future plans?
I want to reduce the use of copper in the vineyard. Also, I want to create a new cuvée. At first I thought about using barrels but now I feel like I am at a point where I'm more connected with the earth and I want to try making a cuvée using amphora.
Further down the road I'd like to plant Pinot d'Aunis and Grolleau Gris and have some fun experimenting making new cuvées.
WINES
RED
Chenin
Anjou, Loire
Medium bodied
Loire Chenin at its most expressive and dynamic: pithy grapefruit and chamomile, balanced with a taut line of acidity.