Delrieu-Ducleux in the heart of Anjou Noir

Delrieu-Ducleux in the heart of Anjou Noir:
Delrieu-Ducleux is a small, low-intervention domaine based in Faveraye-Mâchelles, Anjou (Loire Valley), working schist-rich vineyards in the heart of Anjou Noir. The project was born from the meeting of Julien Delrieu and Thibault Ducleux, whose shared background in natural wine, farming, and fermentation led to a collaborative vision rooted in terroir expression and precision.
The two met while working within the Loire natural wine scene and quickly aligned around a common philosophy: organic viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar, and wines defined by energy rather than force. Julien began the project by farming and planting vineyards in Anjou; Thibault joined later, formalising the domaine and expanding both vineyard work and vinification.
The estate farms approximately 4 hectares, primarily planted to Chenin Blanc, alongside Grolleau, Cabernet Franc and some Cabernet Sauvignon, on soils dominated by schist with clay and limestone influences. All vineyards are farmed organically, with low yields and careful manual work to preserve vine balance and soil life.
In the cellar, fermentations are spontaneous, extractions are gentle, and élevage takes place in fibreglass, stainless steel and neutral oak, depending on the cuvée. Sulphur is used sparingly, if at all, allowing the wines to retain clarity, tension and transparency.
The resulting wines are fresh, mineral and finely structured, with Chenins showing saline precision and reds favouring vibrancy, digestibility and aromatic lift. Delrieu-Ducleux represents a new generation of Loire producers, combining thoughtful farming with a restrained, expressive winemaking approach.
La Joue — Vin de France (Chenin Blanc)
La Joue is a pure Chenin Blanc cuvée focused on freshness and immediacy. Sourced from schist-rich soils in Anjou Noir, it is vinified with minimal intervention to preserve fruit clarity and natural tension.
On the nose, it shows green apple, pear skin, citrus zest and wet stone. The palate is linear and vibrant, driven by bright acidity and a subtle saline finish. Texture is light and precise rather than layered, making it highly drinkable and expressive in youth.
Style: Fresh, mineral, direct
Vinification: Indigenous yeasts, gentle handling, neutral vessels
Le Jeau — Vin de France (Chenin Blanc)
Le Jeau comes from slightly more structured parcels, offering a deeper and more textural expression of Chenin Blanc. Still firmly rooted in Anjou’s schist soils, this cuvée leans toward balance between tension and volume.
Aromatics move into ripe orchard fruit, quince, lemon curd and subtle herbal notes. The palate is broader and more layered, with fine phenolic grip and a long, mineral-driven finish. Compared to La Joue, Le Jeau has more density and ageing potential.
Style: Structured, textured, mineral
Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation, neutral élevage
Pont Bourgeau — Vin de France (Chenin Blanc)
Pont Bourgeau is the most serious and terroir-driven Chenin Blanc in the range, sourced from an identified lieu-dit. Old vines and schist soils give the wine its depth, tension and architectural structure.
The nose is restrained and complex, showing citrus oil, bruised apple, chalk, smoke and saline notes. The palate is tight, focused and persistent, with pronounced minerality, firm acidity and a long, dry finish. This cuvée rewards time in bottle and careful serving.
Style: Tense, mineral, age-worthy
Vinification: Low-intervention, long élevage in neutral vessels.
Delrieu-Ducleux
Across all three cuvées, the signature is purity, schist-driven minerality and natural acidity, with no excess weight or oak influence—Anjou Chenin expressed through restraint and precision.

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