La Grange aux Belles
Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Angers, France
Situated in the heart of the Anjou appelation, the team at La Granges aux Belles produce wines with cleanliness and precision but also the drinkability that we look for in a UTB wine. We are excited to work with these wines due to the originality and the expression of where they are from.
The Chenins have unctuousness balanced with the acidity you would expect, the reds are light, deep in flavour but not overly grippy or stalky.
The seeds of La Grange aux Belles were planted in 2004 when Marc Houtin gave up a career in the oil industry to follow a passion for wine. He purchased a dozen hectares on the slopes of the Aubance river in Anjou.
At first they mainly supplied the co-operative of Brissac but Marc also experimented, vinifying and bottling some parcels individually.
After two great vintages, a difficult harvest in 2006 prompted Marc to seek the help of a partner.
Julien Bresteau was interning at Domaine de Montgilet, the spark was right between them and they became friends. Julien had been studying wine since he was 15 and had been coming to help during harvest. In 2008 Marc invited Julien to join the Domaine and La Grange Aux Belles was born.
In 2008 they converted to organic agriculture. But Mother Nature's love was tough. A hard frost followed by vicious mildew meant the yields were catastrophic.
Two more characters joined the story; a need for further investment brought in old friend Rémi Fournier of "Chez Rémi” in Angers. Also lending his skills came Gérald Peau – aka "Jesse" – the first bartender of the legendary "Le Circle Rouge” wine bar in Angers.
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