If you're no stranger to the Loire Valley wine scene then you've likely come in contact with a bottle of wine from the talented duo at Domaine La Grange Tiphaine sometime during your drinking career. Damien and Coralie Delecheneau have been producing a range of delicious wines from Damien's family estate since the 2000s when he took over from his father. Together they have influenced many farmers and growers in the region, helping them learn and understand the approach of Biodynamic and regenerative farming, all while brining joy to folks around the world with their dynamic wines. If asked what estate in the Loire produces an exemplary lineup of wines that represent the Loire Valley as a whole, La Grange Tiphaine would be in my top five! Sure they don't produce any Muscadet, and they dont work with any of the terroirs in and around Anjou, but their range of wines showcases most of the varieties that we know and love from the Loire: Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Côt, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, to name a few, with many others coplanted in their old vineyards. The wines are incredibly well priced for the quality, something that we also feel is part of what makes the Loire Valley so special, and they're incredibly consistent, thanks to the hard work in the vineyards and careful and attentive winemaking in the cellar.
 
Though their whole range has likely never been available in New York, we do have the opportunity today to highlight several of the wines they produce:
 
For fans of Sauvignon Blanc, their Trinqu'âmes Touraine Sauvignon is hands down one of the best deals in Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. There is nothing that comes close under $20! 
 
Though my most memorable Chenin Blanc experience with Grange Tiphaine may still be an aged bottle of Les Epinays (not available today), the Clef de Sol Montlouis-sur-Loire is truly the calling card of the estate for Chenin. In 2023, it's balanced, with ideal medium-body, some candied ginger and stone fruits on the nose, a fantastic Chenin that will clearly develop nicely over the next 5 years or more.  
 
The sparkling wines from Grange Tiphaine are maybe the best kept secret, if they are a secret at all. The 100% Chenin Blanc Nouveau Nez outperforms many Champagnes at twice the price, and the fan favorite Rosa, Rosé, Rosam is perfect in 2024. We had the great pleasure of sampling a bottle here at the shop a couple of weeks ago and it was smiles all around. We'd highly recommend getting more than one bottle - you'll thank us later!
 
For reds, the Ad Libitum Touraine Rouge is a nicely concentrated, yet still very balanced red blend of Gamay, Côt, and Cabernet Franc. Not too light and not too heavy, it's a perfect late Summer, early Fall red. Though our sifu David Lillie and former colleague and friend John McIlwain are the only two people who specifically ask for the Côt Vieilles Vignes, those who know will tell you that this wine is an extraordinary example of Côt (Malbec) from the Loire, let alone France or the world! The tasting note for the wine contains in depth information from Pascaline Lepeltier and a review from The Wine Doctor of the 2022 release of this wine. 
 
Two beautiful Vouvrays from our good friend Julien Pinon are included in today's offer - a re-release of the superb 2019 Demi-Sec "Trois Argiles," and the recently released 2020 Brut "Non-Dosé."  The "Trois Argiles" is drinking beautifully now but long aging is highly recommended. 2020 is a great vintage for the "Non-Dosé" - it's bone dry, vibrant, dense and long and will also benefit from long-term cellaring. Julien is the eighth generation at this wonderful estate, certainly among the very finest in the Loire.
 
Click below to view the wines or scroll down to read an excerpt about La Grange Tiphaine from the fantastic article penned by our friend Pascaline Lepeltier for Chambers Street Wines in 2020.