Tasting Notes
100% Cabernet Franc. The lion’s share of Guiberteau’s village rouge is sourced from three parcels of old-vine Cabernet Franc (planted from 1955 to 1957) which lie on silty/sandy topsoils over limestone on the Brézé hill. Today one-quarter of the fruit is drawn from Mollay, which is close to the domaine and, as Guiberteau attests, adds spritely lift to the blend.
Made entirely from destemmed grapes, this fruit-forward bottling was naturally fermented in concrete before spending 12 months in large tronconique barrels. This reverses the logic we found in the white releases, where the Moulins is elevated above villages. Romain Guiberteau clearly thought the same, hence the pricing. In the classic style of this wine, it’s impressively lucid and super-succulent, with sweet red cherry flavours giving way to persistent, gently grippy and refreshing tannins on a long, layered and gratifying finish. It really grows in the glass, so give this a quick decant. - Importer Note
Domaine Guiberteau has rapidly ascended to cult status in the Loire Valley, producing some of the region’s most thrilling expressions of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Based in Saumur, the domaine is centred on old vines planted in the Brézé area, a terroir long regarded as one of the Loire’s greatest for Chenin Blanc. The vineyards sit on chalky tuffeau limestone with clay and sand topsoils, yielding wines of striking tension, depth and longevity.
The domaine’s history dates back to the early 20th century, but its modern renaissance began in the late 1990s when Romain Guiberteau returned to take over from his grandfather. With guidance from Clos Rougeard’s Nady Foucault, he embraced organic viticulture, rigorous vineyard selection, and a philosophy of minimal intervention in the cellar. Today, Guiberteau farms around 9 hectares, all certified organic, with a focus on low yields and precision.
His range spans from the vibrant and saline Saumur Blanc and Saumur Rouge, to single-vineyard bottlings such as Clos de Guichaux, Les Arboises and the legendary Brézé, each reflecting the nuances of their specific sites. The whites are crystalline and mineral, often compared to great white Burgundy, while the reds show Cabernet Franc at its most refined, combining perfume, texture and intensity.
Domaine Guiberteau has become a touchstone for the new generation of Loire growers: a domaine that delivers wines of both immediate drinkability and profound cellar potential, with authenticity and terroir at their core.
| Product Type | Wine Red Cabernet Franc |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Loire Valley |
| Sub Region | Saumur |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |