Who makes it
Madeleine Billard joined her parents in running the estate from the 1970s and brought her husband François Billard, a trained oenologist, into technical leadership. Their son Jérôme Billard is also a trained oenologist and represents the third generation. The domaine seeks a maturity point that brings varietal earthiness and spiciness alongside fruit.
Where it grows
Domaine de la Noblaie is in Ligré in the Loire Valley. The estate name comes from Le Vau Breton, which in Rabelais's wording meant Valley of Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is the only grape variety in red Chinon wine, while Chenin Blanc supplies the white wines and rosés also belong to the range. Les Blancs Manteaux and La Part des Anges carry the Touraine appellation.
What they make
The range includes Cabernet Franc red wines, Chenin Blanc whites and rosés from distinct terroir parcels. Les Blancs Manteaux is a Cabernet Franc red from 65 year old vines in an east and south east facing vineyard of Upper Turonian tuffeau limestone. It spends 12 months on lees in 500 litre barrels, a period used to open the wine while avoiding obvious oak aromas.
La Part des Anges is a Chenin Blanc from 60 year old vines on tuffeau limestone. Whole bunches are pressed directly, only first press juice goes to barrel, and fermentation proceeds without added sulphur. It spends 15 months in large oak vats and 500 litre barrels, followed by 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.