Terres d’Imaginaire: a brilliant new producer from the Loire
Terres d’Imaginaire is an exciting new producer in Anjou, and very much a rising star. It’s the project of 32-year-old Mathilde Magne, and she’s based in Rochefort-sur-Loire. She began in 2022, after spending a few years working with Sylvain Pataille and before this Stefano Amerighi. Mathilde has 9.2 hectares of vines and currently makes 30 000 bottles a year. Careful work in the vineyard, with an emphasis on biodiversity, is matched with a natural approach in the cellar. Fermentations are natural and sulfites only added where absolutely needed.
Terres d’Imaginaire Feu Follet Chenin 2023 Vin de France
12% alcohol. Half in tank, half in old wood. This is light, expressive and has a beautiful energy. Delicate, chalky and mineral with lemon and green apple notes as well as some stony detail, and some dissolved carbon dioxide. It’s light and easy but there’s a mineral persistence here that is quite lovely. 93/100
Terres d’Imaginaire Coteaux Roux Chenin 2023 Vin de France
12% alcohol. There’s some substance here: it’s chalky, apply, saline and subtly mineral, but then there’s a lovely tangy acid line and nice density on the palate. Tingly and saline with a lovely clear, transparent profile, like a good music mix with plenty of space. 94/100
Terres d’Imaginaire Mirage Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Vin de France
13.5% alcohol. 10 days on skins. Full orange/gold colour. Lovely weight here: it’s ripe and textural with a crystalline quality to the ripe pear and mandarin palate, and a chalky gypsum edge to the ripe fruit, finishing with some pear skin and ripe apple notes. There’ some lavender, white pepper and honeysuckle too. Such and intriguing wine: quite special. 95/100
UK agent: Déjà Bu Wines
