DOMAINE DE NOBLAIE, Chinon
Domaine de la Noblaie was recommended to us by our friend Freddie Chaudière of Château Pesquié in the Ventoux. It is one of the oldest family estates in the Chinon appellation. This is an historic site; the house having been started sometime in either the 15th or 16th century. From the top of one of the parcels you can look out across the river to the Château de Chinon, where Joan of Arc asked Charles VII for the chance to lead his army. Things didn’t work out so well for her, though. Under the capable stewardship of Jérôme Billard, Domaine de la Noblaie now has 28ha of vineyards which sit at one of the highest points in Chinon with essentially 2 sloping hillsides. The soil is mostly limestone (some of it really quite deep) which is covered with clay and limestone shards. The estate, which includes bush and wood surrounding the winery, is certified organic by Ecocert and they have been working this way since Jérôme took things over from his father.
Jérôme comes by his talent honestly and through hard work. His father, François, was a teacher of enology in Anjou. After graduating with his own degree in enology, Jérôme did an internship in 2002 with Christian Moueix at Château Pétrus ,and also at his Californian estate Dominus. From there he joined his parents in 2003, and hasn’t looked back.
The Domaine produces 8 wines in all with an annual production of approx. 150,000 bottles (12,500 cases). They own 8% of the white Chinon appellation where they produce 2 wines from Chenin Blanc. Everything is done by hand. Unusually for those that hand harvest in Chinon, Domaine de la Noblaie has the same team each year which is critical as the vineyard and winery triage is quite severe. The very oldest vines, for their top cuvée, were planted in 1943. Vinifications are long and slow, indigenous yeasts are used exclusively and the wines are fermented in stainless steel, some in barrel and some in extremely old limestone vats – yes, that is correct, limestone! All of this provides wines with great texture and purity.
