The Lousy Bush

The Clos du Tue-Bœuf family estate was taken over in the early 1990s by brothers Jean-Marie (now retired) and Thierry Puzelat, and is currently run by Thierry and his daughter Zoé. With its 10 hectares in the Cheverny appellation and 4 hectares in the Touraine appellation, it is undoubtedly a pioneering estate for organic and "natural" wines in the Loire Valley, following in the footsteps of Jules Chauvet and the experiments of winemakers Marcel Lapierre (Beaujolais) and Pierre Overnoy (Jura). The estate's philosophy is based on defending the true expression of the terroir against all artifice and is reflected in about ten different cuvées, each reflecting the specific geological characteristics – flinty clay or siliceous gravel – and the grape varieties associated with them. Among the white wines, notable examples include Frileuse (Sauvignon Blanc, Fié Gris, and Chardonnay), Le Brin de Chèvre (Pineau), and Le Buisson Pouilleux (Sauvignon Blanc). The reds include La Butte (Gamay), Rouillon (Gamay and Pinot Noir), La Guerrerie (Côt and Gamay), La Gravotte, and La Caillère (mostly Pinot Noir). These wines have become iconic and inspire many young winemakers seeking authenticity.