Interview with Jean-Philippe Brot - Chenin Blanc from Loire-Montlouis

Since we began selling Domaine de la Taille aux Loires at Cépages starting with the 2022 vintage, it has already gained strong support from authentic-minded customers as a producer that embodies the essence of Chenin Blanc from Montlouis-sur-Loire.

With winemaker Jean-Philippe Brot set to visit Japan in November 2025, we interviewed him ahead of his visit to Japan to find out more about his interests.

Q1. What are the characteristics of the 2023 vintage?

A1. There have been a series of warm years in recent years, and 2023 is one of them.

This vintage is rich in flavor thanks to fully ripe grapes, but it can also be called the "year of the winemaker," in which grape selection had a major impact on the quality.

Q2. Is this your first time visiting Japan?

A2. It's my first time!

I am thrilled to finally be able to visit a country I have always wanted to visit.

Q3. What is the most important thing to you when making wine?

A3. It's difficult to sum it up in one sentence, but I think it's probably "everything done by hand" that brings balance and energy to the wine.

Q4. Is there anything you are trying to express through your wines that represents the essence of your domaine?

A4. Chenin Blanc is a variety that expresses the terroir beautifully, so we strive to express it as faithfully as possible.

I think our specialty is producing wines that are completely dry yet have a flavor that can be described as "the natural flavor of the grapes."

From the interview, it becomes clear that his role is to step in and bring balance and energy to faithfully express Montlouis Chenin Blanc.

Domaine de la Taille Haut-Lou wines are listed on the menus of the following famous restaurants (Michelin Guide ratings are in parentheses):

MIRAZUR (Menton ★★★)
ARPEGE (Paris ★★★)
LE BRISTOL HOTEL (Paris ★★★)
PAVILLON LEDOYEN CARRES Pavillon Ledoyen (Paris ★★★)
RESTAURANT KEI (Paris ★★★)
TAKAO TAKANO (Lyon ★★)
HOTEL LE NEGRESCO Hotel Negresco (Nice ★)
And many more

You can check out the lineup of Domaine de la Taille aux Les here.

https://cepages-wines.com/collections/domaine-de-la-taille-aux-loups