Anjou Rouge L’Enfant Terrible 2023 Clos des Treilles

Anjou Rouge L’Enfant Terrible 2023

🌿 Vineyard Philosophy

Nicolas Réau cultivates his vineyards using certified organic and biodynamic methods without compromise. The soils of Anjou, rich in clay and limestone, give strength and tension to the wines. Meticulous care of the vines and respect for the natural rhythms of the plants are fundamental to every decision in the vineyard. This wine comes first and foremost from the soil, not technique.

🍇 Winemaking Approach

L’Enfant Terrible is fermented spontaneously in stainless steel tanks, without selected yeasts. It then ages for 12 months in used barriques from the second to fifth passage, preserving the pure fruit expression. There is no fining or filtration, and sulfur additions are minimal — pure Cabernet Franc expression.

👃 Tasting Notes

The wine is immediate and vibrant in the glass, with intense aromas of black fruits: blackberry, plum, cherry, alongside violet and subtle menthol notes. On the palate, it is fleshy, with firm but well-integrated tannins, solid structure, and a persistent finish. This wine truly represents Nicolas Réau’s style and vision: direct, energetic, and personal.

📝 Technical Sheet

• Producer: Nicolas Réau

• Vintage: 2023

• Region: Loire

• Designation: Anjou Rouge AOC

• Grape Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation

• Aging: 12 months in used barriques (2nd–5th passage)

• Bottle size: 0.75 L

• Alcohol content: 12.5%

• Sulfites: Yes (minimal)

• Serving temperature: 16–18°C

• Style: Natural red wine

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Clos des Treilles: a return to the land in the heart of Anjou

Clos des Treilles was born from the dream of Nicolas Reau, a visionary winemaker who, after a career as a pianist, chose to leave music behind to fully devote himself to wine. Nestled in the heart of Anjou, within the Loire Valley vineyards, this domaine embodies charm and biodiversity. Nicolas bought his first plots in 1998 and started vinifying in 2002 with a clear goal: to craft pure, uncompromising wines that express the soul of each unique parcel. His working philosophy blends peasant tradition, independent spirit, and an artistic sensitivity that shines through every bottle.

A living vineyard: nature, biodiversity, and absolute respect

Clos des Treilles is run with total respect for nature. Nicolas works with certified organic farming, no herbicides or pesticides, and careful manual labour that protects soil integrity. The vines, rooted in clay-limestone soils, are mainly old plots of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay, thriving thanks to the Loire’s temperate climate. Biodiversity is safeguarded through hedgerows, wildflowers, and beneficial insects, while yields are kept deliberately low to produce healthy, concentrated grapes that mirror their unique terroir.

In the cellar: no tricks, only time as an ally

In the cellar, the approach is just as radical: natural winemaking, spontaneous fermentations with only native yeasts, no fining or filtration, and minimal to no added sulphur in some cuvées. Nicolas uses steel, concrete, and wood vats, choosing the best vessel for each wine to highlight its true character. The wines are alive, vibrant, sometimes unpredictable but always authentic: they capture Anjou in its purest form, with freshness, minerality, and a drinkability that never fails to charm.