La Noblaie Estate : History

La Noblaie, between legend & reality

La Noblaie is a domaine of 18 hectares within the environs of Chinon. It is located in the Vau Breton; this means, in its old french, 'Breton Valley', which, in turn, gives its name to the locally grown Cabernet Franc grape. Historically, La Noblaie is one of the oldest winery in Chinon.      Cassini, the most famous cartographer in the service of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil, when publishing his 18th Century map of France, clearly indicated on it the Chateau of La Noblaie with the vineyard surrounding it.

Cassini map extract

      The oldest public record, discovered so far, of the serving of wine from La Noblaie, is that it was served in 1912, at the reception for Military Delegations from twenty-two nations; these included delegations from Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Spain and Norway - it was a red vintage of 1893; it was a wine aged over a period of nineteen years...

The Winemakers  

In 1952, Jacqueline and Pierre Manzagol bought the Noblaie Domaine, which had finally fallen into complete dereliction during the 2nd World War. They put all their love and energy into the re-establishment of the lost and forgotten vineyards.      In 1953, the production is made of 3 barrels... from 5 hectaresof vines!

Jacqueline and Pierre Manzagol

François and Madeleine Billard

In 1968, Madeleine Manzagol, Jacqueline and Pierre's daughter, married François Billard. From the ENITA of Bordeaux, he is a Professor of oenology.       He intensified and deepened the cultivation and care of the vineyard, honing the quality of the Domaine's grapes and its wines.

Today, their son, Jérôme Billard, a young Oenologist, qualifying in Burgundy, has established himself at La Noblaie, after gaining extensive experience in th vineyard Domaines of Pétrus (Pomerol), Dominus Estate (Napa Valley, California) and also the vineyards of New Zealand.

Jérôme Billard