Domaine des Hauts Baigneux
Philippe Mesnier
In 2013, longtime friends Nicolas Grosbois and Philippe Mesnier purchased 12 hectares of vines in Azay-le-Rideau, an excellent though relatively unknown terroir located a few kilometers east of Chinon. They immediately began farming all the vines organically, and set about on an ambitious project to reintroduce the wines of Azay-le-Rideau. Traditionally, Azay-le-Rideau is famous for white wines made from Chenin Blanc and rosé wines made from Grolleau and Gamay.
Most of the vineyards are located in Azay-le-Rideau on the lieu-dit "Hauts Baigneux." The domaine also owns a two hectare plot in Saché, close to the former studio of famed American artist Alexander Calder. This great flint-heavy terroir produces the two top cuvées of the domaine: Le Clos des Brancs and Blanc Chenin. The red grape Grolleau originally comes from Azay-le-Rideau and is traditionally used in high-quality rosé production. Hauts Baigneux makes a compelling argument for its quality as a red wine, as seen in their 100% Grolleau Rouge.
The wines of Domaine des Hauts Baigneux are all produced with natural yeasts and are vinified with minimal intervention. The cuvées Les Chenes and Les Pentes are delicious vins de soif that showcase the best of Loire Valley, and the single-vineyard Chenin Blancs are a testament to the towering quality of this terroir.
Key information
Loire Valley
Azay-le-Rideau
12 hectares
Founded in 2012
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The wines
Touraine Azay le Rideau Blanc Chenin
The cuvée Blanc Chenin is a blend of two exceptional Chenin Blanc vineyards from the Azay-le-Rideau area. The base for the wine comes from an exceptional two hectare plot on flint terroir in Saché, close to the former studio of Alexander Calder, th...
Vin de France Spontané Chenin
Hauts Baigneux's prestige Pet Nat, made from the Domaine's oldest vines around the winery in Panzoult. Fine persistent bubbles of high-acidity Chenin.
Pièce des Moulins
It's not easy to find a great value, reliably delicious and organic Sauvignon Blanc. Producing such an elusive goal was part of the inspiration of Domaine des Hauts Baigneux from the start. While their better known neighbor has gravitated towards i...
Touraine Azay le Rideau Clos des Brancs
Clos des Brancs comes exclusively from the flint-strewn single vineyard in Saché, located directly behind the famous artist Alexander Calder's workshop. The vineyard is surrounded by woods and exposed due South, making for a perfect microclimate to...
Vin de France Blanc Les Chênes
Touraine Azay le Rideau Rosé La Surprise
After Bandol, Azay-le-Rideau in the Loire Valley was the second rosé given AOC status in France in the 1930s. For tourists, it's famous for the beautiful Renaissance château, but for wine lovers, Azay-le-Rideau is known as the birth place of Grolle...
Touraine Azay le Rideau Rose de Silex
Rose de Silex is a tiny cuvée of rosé aged in foudres for one year. Philippe and Nicolas decided to create this gastronomic rosé to show how the terroir of Azay-le-Rideau is perfect for complex rosés that will benefit from ageing .
Touraine Rouge Les Pentes
Les Pentes is blend of three classic Loire Valley red grapes: Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Grolleau. Cabernet Franc provides the backbone and structure for the wine, Gamay adds fruitiness, and Grolleau, the energy and freshness. The Grolleau is espec...
Touraine Rouge Sanguine
A nod to Nicolas' history just across the forest in Chinon, Sanguine is a 100% Cabernet Franc. It comes from the low part of the hillside in the lieu-dit Hauts Baigneux where the soils are dominated by flint. The grapes are harvested at full maturi...