Chances are you’ve already heard about La Grange Tiphaine. Praised by wine critics and loved by wine enthusiasts, this domain is the hot domain to follow, with good reason! Wines of incomparable finesse and purity.
Located in Ambroise, in the Loire valley, domain Grange Tiphaine is a family domain whose origins go back to the 19th century. At the time, the Delecheneau family grew a variety of crops on the land. From 1941 onwards, they bottled their entire production themselves. From the 1970s, when Jackie Delecheneau took over the running of the domain, he put an end to the domain’s polyculture and planted vines of better quality. In the late 2000s, Damien Delecheneau took over the reins and was joined by his wife a few years later. The two winemakers met in Bordeaux while studying enology. Damien takes care of the vines and winery, whereas Coralie manages administration and sales.
The 15 hectares of vineyards are split between Montlouis-sur-Loire, Touraine and Touraine-Ambroise. It obtained organic certification in 2007 and biodynamic in 2014. Côt, Gamay, Grolleau and Cabernet Franc are planted for the red wines, and Chenin and Sauvignon for the white wines. Many of the vines are over 100 years old. Grass is allowed to grow between vines and biodynamic preparations are used to stimulate soil life and encourage the vine to dig deeper into the ground, getting all the nutrients it needs. Yields are limited by pruning and de-budding. Each parcel and variety is vinified separately, as the producers strive to find the most faithful expression of terroir.
In the winery, the work is very precise and measured, with single parcel vinifications and élevage in concrete vats and old casks. Ambient yeasts are used for the fermentations, and the juices are transported by gravity, with gentle extractions and long macerations to follow. The use of sulphites is judicious and no other inputs, or interventionist techniques are used. The whites are neither racked nor stirred. Carbonic maceration is used for Gamay so as to retain the fruit. The aim is to produce “wines that we like: precise, refined, elegant and above all, wines that keep you coming back for more.” And the result is just that, wines from La Grange Tiphaine have a rare purity and elegance, they’re eminently subtle. A rising star of the Loire.
Cuvées from domain La Grange Tiphaine:
Touraine Bécarre La Grange Tiphaine 2017
A lovely biodynamic, easy-drinking wine: fruity, fresh and delicious. The perfect pairing for barbecued beef…
Touraine Clef de Sol La Grange Tiphaine 2017
A blend of Côt and Cabernet Franc that opens up with finesse and elegance. After a few years of aging, this wine goes very well with stewed meats.
Montlouis Clef de Sol La Grange Tiphaine 2017 (blanc)
Produced from old vines (80 years), this cuvée offers fruity and floral aromas and has a nice delicate texture. Delicious with fish or seafood.
Touraine Amboise Côt Vieilles Vignes La Grange Tiphaine 2017
Produced from hundred-year-old vines of Côt, this cuvée offers wonderful depth of flavor and pure fruit.
Montlouis Les Epinays La Grange Tiphaine 2017
This single parcel cuvée is very fruity (pear, apricot, grapefruit) and has lovely minerality.
