As much as wine lovers indulge the conceit that we are epicures who assess wines dispassionately and uninfluenced by popular culture, this is not necessarily the case. The film Sideways exercised a remarkable influence on the consumption of Merlot and Pinot Noir. Notwithstanding that the protagonist was an entirely disreputable and indulgent philistine, sales of merlot plummeted just as those of Pinot skyrocketed. In a similar fashion, sales of Sancerre were given an enormous boost by the lieterary endorsement in the softcore porn novel Fifty Shades of Grey. The main character’s (the priapic Christian Grey) drink of choice was Sancerre, which was depicted not only as refined and elegant but also as an aphrodisiac. Regardless of cause, the fact remains that Sancerre has become the wine of choice among the ABC crowd (Anything but Chardonnay).
Riding the crest of this wave have been Thibault and Jennifer Denizot. Under their leadership and guidance, Domaine Denizot has emerged as a beacon of traditional yet innovative winemaking. The Domaine, which was established in the early 20th century by Thibault’s great-grandfather, now encompasses around 20 hectares of prime vineyards. The holdings include choice parcels in Chêne Marchand, known for its terres blanches soils, rich in limestone and clay; Les Bouffants and Le Grand Chemarin, with soils of limestone caillottes and Les Monts Damnés, with steep slopes of kimmeridgian marl soils. These parcels are characterized by their diverse soils, predominantly limestone and flint, which impart distinctive mineral notes to the wines. The careful selection of these sites underscores Thibault’s commitment to expressing the unique identity of each plot.
Thibault and Jennifer practice sustainable viticulture, prioritizing the health of the soil and the vines. The vineyards are cultivated without chemical herbicides, and only organic fertilizers are used to promote soil vitality. They employ a rigorous canopy management system, including shoot thinning and leaf removal, to ensure optimal sunlight exposure and air circulation.
In the cellar, the guiding philosophy is one of minimal intervention. Thibault believes that the quality of the wine is primarily determined in the vineyard, and his role as a winemaker is to preserve the natural expression of the fruit. Harvesting is done by hand to ensure that only the ripest, healthiest grapes are selected. The fruit is rigorously sorted both in the vineyards and in the cuverie.
