2023 Delrieu Ducleux Le Jeau Rouge
WINEMAKER: Julien Delrieu & Thibault Ducleux
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VARIETY: Cabernet Franc, Grolleau
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic
50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Grolleau, vinified separately, the grapes are de-stemmed and macerated for a week. Vibrant and pretty. The Franc displays on the nose, roses and a little tomato leaf. Fine tannins, plush yet savoury. Theres some crunch and slurp. Deliciously moreish.
The schist soils of Anjou Noir produce magical wines, especially Chenin Blanc. Marc Angeli, Stephane Bernaudeau or Richard Leroy, being some of the finest examples there are. The newest shining star is Delrieu-Ducleux. The story begins in 2010 when Julien Delrieu and college friends, Thibault Ducleux and Jean-Marie Brousset came together and created Les Roches Seches, purchasing vineyards in Faveraye-Machelles. The trio disbanded in 2017, Julien retained 3.5 hectares of vines and went solo.
Mid way through 2022, Julien reunited with his longtime friend from Les Roches days, Thibault Ducleux; “to increase precision in the day to day work and hopefully take the domaine to new heights”. Julien and Thibault’s 3.5 hectares sits across 5 lieu-dits. Planted to old vine Chenin Blanc, Grolleau, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The commune of Faveraye Machelles is located in Anjou Noir, a subregion famed for its black schist that dominates the geological profile, South West of Angers. The continental climate has Atlantic influences, the land is gentle slopes. The soils predominately sandy decomposed schist over schist bedrock, with gravel and clay in some parcels. Farming is organic with biodynamic practices. Julien and Thibaut work quite simply in an old farm building. Their production is between 15,000-20,000 bottles per year, half of which remains in France.