Damien Menut
Thésée, Loire

The village of Thésée in the Loire valley’s Touraine region has a long history of organic viticulture and has been home to an enviable roster of accomplished vignerons over the years. Damien arrived there a decade ago to train alongside one-such man, Bruno Allion, a true godfather of the Loire natural wine movement, and although undergoing formal schooling in Beaune and a placement at a large Burgundy house, his work alongside Bruno became his most formative experience.  

Damien, now with his own cellar in Thésée, looks after 4 hectares of vines planted on deep clay-rich soils — small parcels of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and older vines of Grolleau Noir and Gamay. Like his mentor, he follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard, and in the cellar as much as possible is done by hand, including the de-stemming of grapes.  All wines see just over a years élevage in old barrique, giving ample time for the wines to find their balance before being bottled without any additions.

It’s rare to find a vigneron in such early stages of their career producing wines of such depth and precision, as well as an abundance of varietal charm, but in an area not short of brilliant winemakers these really do shine through as some of our favourites.