Delrieu Ducleux
Loire Valley

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Thibault Ducleux Winemaker

  • Julien Delrieu & Thibault Ducleux

  • Anjou
    Loire Valley, France

  • Biodynamic (not certified)

The schist soils of Anjou Noir produce magical wines, especially Chenin Blanc. Marc Angeli, Stephane Bernaudeau or Richard Leroy, being some of the finest examples there are. The newest shining star is Delrieu-Ducleux.

The story begins in 2010 when Julien Delrieu and college friends, Thibault Ducleux and Jean-Marie Brousset came together and created Les Roches Seches, purchasing vineyards in Faveraye-Machelles. The trio disbanded in 2017; Julien retained 3.5 hectares of vines and went solo.

I first visited Julien in March 2022. An apiarist turned winemaker who has worked with Sebastian Brunet and Vincent Careme in Vouvray, he has become well acquainted with Chenin Blanc.

Mid way through 2022, Julien reunited with his longtime friend from Les Roches days, Thibault Ducleux; “to increase precision in the day-to-day work and hopefully take the domaine to new heights”.

Julien and Thibault’s 3.5 hectares sits across 5 lieu-dits. Planted to old vine Chenin Blanc, Grolleau, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The commune of Faveraye Machelles is in Anjou Noir, a subregion famed for its black schist that dominates the geological profile, Southwest of Angers. The continental climate has Atlantic influences; the land is gentle slopes. The soils predominately sandy decomposed schist over schist bedrock, with gravel and clay in some parcels.

Farming is organic with biodynamic practices. Julien and Thibaut work quite simply in an old farm building. Their production is between 15,000-20,000 bottles per year, half of which remains in France.

Wines of tension and depth with a mineral core. Delrieu-Ducleux offers affordability in a region increasingly becoming inaccessible.

‘THANKS TO THE MENTORSHIP OF MARK ANGELI AMONG OTHERS, ANJOU NOIR IS REALLY A HOT BED OF NEW TALENT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE, WITHOUT DOUBT, IS THE ESTATE OF JULIEN DELRIEU’ — Pascaline Lepeltier MS, 2020

The Wines

  • Varietal Chenin Blanc
    Colour White

    Lieu-dit Pont Borceau was planted in 1973. There are three picks in this parcel, the first going to this cuvee. Fermented in fibreglass and rested in Stainless for 7 months before bottling.

  • Varietal Chenin Blanc
    Colour White

    The fruit for La Joue also comes from Lieu-dit Pont Borceau. This is the second and third picks, 7–10 days later. Half of the wine is fermented and aged in old barrels.

  • Varietal Chenin Blanc
    Colour White

    The Le Jeau vineyard, a lieu-dit that was planted in 1955, a west facing schist slope that overlooks the Lys River and is adjacent to their neighbour and close friend, Stephane Bernaudeau’s Les Nourrissons vineyard. Fermented and èlevaged in old barrels, this is the top cuvee of the estate.

  • Varietal Cabernet Franc, Grolleau
    Colour Red

    50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Grolleau which are vinified separately. The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated for a week.

  • Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
    Colour Red

    100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was planted in 1976. Whole bunches are macerated for 10 days and èlevaged in stainless steel. 

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