Ancestral

The son of Claude Courtois (Les Cailloux du Paradis), a prominent yet unconventional figure in the Loire Valley's natural wine movement, Julien Courtois established his own estate in 1998 with his partner Heidi Kuka, in the same Touraine Sologne terroir, in Soings-en-Sologne. Following in his father's footsteps, he cultivates his 4.5 hectares without any chemical products and is committed to maintaining vibrant biodiversity. Traditional local grape varieties (Menu Pineau, Chenin Blanc, Romorantin, Côt, Gamay), low yields, natural winemaking, and extended aging are the hallmarks of this small estate, which has built its reputation on the authenticity, expressiveness, and even singularity of its wines.