This domain is one of the best kept secrets from the Tours region. But who is the winemaker? That would be Nicolas Barbou, son of Dominique and Véronique Barbou who own Domaine des Corbillières in Touraine. After having been taught by Jean-Yves Bizot up until 2021 (who has had a strong influence on how Nicolas makes his wines), Nicolas then travelled to New Zealand for work before deciding to start his own vineyard in his home region of Touraine in the Loire Valley.
Artist or winemaker? Nicolas’ idea is to produce wines that evoke great emotions from various varieties such as Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin, Gamay and even Pinot Noir. The name of his first cuvée, Utopie Créative, created the tone for the rest of the range, enthralling and daring. His decisions both at the vines and in the winery are precise and showcase the talents of this highly skilled winemaker who is only at the beginning of his career. One to watch very very closely!

This cuvée is the very first to be produced by Nicolas Barbou after the creation of his domain. Utopie Créative is created from 50-year-old, organic Sauvignon Blanc vines planted on a sandy terrain composed of quartz on clay. Once the wine is made, it spends 20 months ageing in wooden barrels with very little sulphur being added during this time.
This wine possesses an aromatic nose and a taut, fresh palate that ends in a beautifully long finish. It would pair wonderfully with goat’s cheese as well as braised asparagus
Only 2,500 bottles of this rare wine were produced in 2020, making it one that many wine lovers have a difficult time finding.