Thierry Hesnault

Thierry Hesnault farms 2.68 hectares of vineyards in the northern part of Touraine. Born near Amboise into a winemaking family, he now lives and works near the village of Chahaignes in the Sarthe department. Thierry’s experience spans Bordeaux, Champagne, and Vouvray, as well as collaborations with fellow Sarthe winemakers Eric Nicolas and Jean-Pierre Robinot. This exposure shaped his sensitive, terroir-driven approach and appreciation for old vine material, ultimately leading him to search for his own parcels and start his own production in 2009.

Thierry’s vineyards include 0.5 hectares of 130-year-old Pineau d’Aunis, 1.4 hectares of 90-year-old Gamay, a parcel of Chenin Blanc, and a selection of hybrid varieties ranging from 50 to 70 years old. He also produces a small négoce cuvée from a 90-year-old Cabernet Franc parcel in Touraine. The reds are generally planted on deep gravelly sands, while the Pineau d’Aunis grows on a mix of sand, flint, and iron, and the Chenin and hybrid varieties sit on clay and iron-rich soils.

Some vines were previously exposed to chemical fertilizers, and Thierry allows these soils to naturally exhaust before taking further action. A former teacher at the Lycée Viticole d’Amboise, he emphasizes the importance of precise pruning, particularly of superficial “sideways” roots, to encourage the growth of older, deeper “vertical” roots.

The estate’s cellar is located in a tuffeau cave without electricity or running water, allowing fermentations to proceed at low temperatures with minimal evaporation. Red grapes are fermented as whole bunches and aged in old barrels, while the Chenin Blanc and hybrid varieties are tank-fermented and crafted in a pétillant rosé style, with bottles disgorged before release. Thierry’s approach highlights the purity of his old vine fruit and the minerality of Touraine’s unique terroirs.