The perfect Cab Franc does exist - all violet, tart cherry, and crunch - graphite back drop and a long lingering garden basket finish. So So good and one of Drew's faves all-time.

Whole bunch semi-carbonic Cab Franc FROM HEAVEN

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After training under Loire icons Charles Joguet and Pierre Guiberteau, Thibault Stéphan acquired a small collection of vines in Le Puy-Notre-Dame, a small and little-known appellation to the south of Saumur, producing his first vintage in 2017. A native of Brittany with no family connection to the wine trade, Thibault came to the Loire in search of a way to break into the scene. Hard work eventually paid off, and he now steers a small but formidable domaine in the center of one of the most exciting areas for up-and coming winemakers in France.
Thibault’s lineup of wines – a lone Chenin Blanc and a few different expressions of Cabernet Franc – all come from certified organic estate vines and are vinified with minimal intervention. He usually adds a small dose of SO2 at bottling (never before) and has experimented with 0/0 cuvées in the past. Thibault is part of a small group of young, talented, and like-minded vignerons (including Emmanuel Haget) who are leading the way to put this humble corner of the Loire valley on the map.

Name: Thibault Stéphan
First year at Domaine: 2015
Winemaking Style: Clean, fresh, fruity wines. Continuing to evolve, learn and adapt, both professionally and because of climate change.
Name of Domaine: Domaine Stephen Thibault
Year Founded: 2015
Location: Le Puy-Notre-Dame
Total Holdings: 6 ha, all within the Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame AOC
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc
Average Vine Age: 50 years
Farming Practices: Organic (certified)
Number of Workers: 2
Bottles produced/year: 15,000
Other Info: Trained at Guiberteau and Joguet. Found his vines by putting an ad in the local newspaper ‘petite anonce’. Originally from Brittany, with no family background in wine.