One of the natural wine world’s most beloved figures, Thierry Puzelat has been making wine au naturel in the Cheverny and Touraine appellations of the Loire Valley for over two decades, although records of his winemaking family date back to the 15th century. Under the Clos du Tue-Boeuf label, Thierry, along with his brother Jean-Marie, champions some the Loire’s lesser known – and nearly extinct – grape varieties, many of which grow in the Puzelats’ own organically farmed vineyards. The brothers’ wide range of cuveés are distinctly different – each honest expressions of their unique terroir – but are not without the Puzelat stamp: vibrant, crunchy, utterly gulpable wines. Thierry’s recent inspiration has come from the ancient winemaking culture of Georgia and he now makes a blanc (from Menu Pineau) and a rouge (from Pinot Noir and Gamay) out of traditional Georgian qvevri.
Watch Thierry at the 2016 Real Wine Fair chatting about both his wines and his impressions of the UK wine market: