Portraits de vignerons Reims
CHAMPAGNE THIENOT
A family spirit, a Grand Maison of today
In a milieu where the greatest names began their existence as far back as the 18th century, there is an atypical man, with an outstanding dynamism, who has been building, for the last 25 years, a new first-ranked Champagne House: Alain Thiénot. He settles down with his family in 1985, constituting a consequent vineyard in the Champagne Grand Crus of Aÿ, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Pierry, Cumières, and Damery. His ambition for Champagne Thiénot: «quality, personality, elegance... "
While certain Champagne Houses may revel in celebrating their past, in stark contrast, Thiénot proudly flaunts its youth and visionary perspective. The T in Thiénot combines modernity and quality, creativity and exclusivity. Its lively, individual style and contemporary design, give rise to individually crafted Champagnes, created for only a select range of restaurants and wine merchants. This distinctive personality can be found in the three pure notes of the collection, each expressing fruit character combining the finesse and freshness with elegant complexity.
Accurate, of a profound exigency, Alain Thiénot now runs a House which is among the jewels of the Champagne region and signs wines of exceptional quality. This challenge of creation is testament to the character of this determined entrepreneur who combines his core beliefs of terroir, technical mastery and the ability to share his knowledge with others.
But he expresses his success with restraint and willingly cultivates modesty:
Garance, Alain and Stanislas Thiénot.
"In the business world, and especially in Champagne, one must know to be discreet so as not to make enemies,” he admits.
The Thiénot spirit is that of a family turned towards innovation and a resolutely contemporary approach. It is also a team spirit where each in his own profession, from the wine grower to the cellar Master, gives his best to build the unique style of the House Thiénot, where modernity harmonizes with respect for traditions, where creativity is synonymous with quality, where passion marries rigor.
Today, Alain Thiénot continues to develop this Great Champagne House of the 21st century with the support, since 2003, of his two children—Garance and Stanislas. Associated since their youngest age to this adventure, fascinated also by the vineyard and its Wines, they find their natural place and bring to the company their youth and the promise of an ambitious future.
Garance, director of marketing and communication, imparts a distinctly individual touch to the House, founded on her flair for fashion and design. Naturally creative, she adopts a resolutely contemporary approach to the brand’s visual identity. Through her strong personality, she is regarded today as one of the key female figures in Champagne.
Bordeaux, Washington, Sao Paulo… Before returning to merge his destiny with that of the family business, Stanislas’ dream was to see the world. And today, he is seducing the world over with his true entrepreneurial spirit and in-depth understanding of wine.
Brand ambassador, combining youthful spirit with exacting standards, originality with professionalism, he is closely involved in creating each Champagne in the collection, works meticulously to build this new Great Champagne House, and tirelessly strives to promote its image throughout the world.
But here, family spirit does not mean similarity, but quite the opposite, individuality. For each family member, there is an exclusive, personal Champagne, expressing the finest Grand Cru wines from Champagne, in the very best vintages. Asserting the Thiénot style in its purest form, the wines in this collection are crafted from the vineyards located primarily on Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites.
The magnificent
Côte des Blancs blend of the
Cuvée Stanislas was dedicated to his son by Alain Thiénot. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, this Blanc de Blancs Champagne is the perfect marriage of subtlety and elegance.
The name
Garance, signifying a bright, clear shade of red, brings splendour and character to this unconventional Blanc de Rouges. 100% Pinot Noir grapes from Aÿ and Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims, this original wine reveals an attractive bead, accompanied by an intense, complex bouquet, signalling great ageing potential.
Cuvée Alain Thiénot is the unique achievement of an outstanding year, only crafted in the very finest vintages. Subtle blend of 60% Chardonnay from
Côte des Blancs and 40% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims, it denotes a wine of great maturity, synonymous with luxury.
La Vigne aux Gamins, finally, is a highly distinctive wine, effusing love and flavours. Made entirely from Chardonnay grapes from old vines planted in a 100% Grand Cru vineyard in Avize, this Champagne is very clear, almost translucent in appearance, with a delicate bead. Its impressive length reveals a great terroir.
With an amazing complicity in a resolutely dynamic approach, Alain, Stanislas and Garance confidently move forward the Thiénot House of tomorrow, continuing the story of this French brand of international stature that combines prestige and invention.
Dominique Peyral-Bon
Champagne Thiénot
14 rue des Moissons
51100 Reims - France
Tél. : 33 (0) 3 26 77 50 10
www.thienot.com
