{"id":355,"date":"2020-02-14T12:57:23","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T11:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divineloire.fr\/en\/visiter-bourgueil-quatre-vignerons-incontournables-chez-qui-deguster-et-acheter\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T14:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T12:50:32","slug":"wine-tasting-in-bourgueil-discover-four-fantastic-wineries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divineloire.fr\/en\/wine-tasting-in-bourgueil-discover-four-fantastic-wineries\/","title":{"rendered":"Wine tasting in Bourgueil : our “Fantastic 4” winemakers!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In our previous post on the Bourgueil vineyard<\/a> we told a story about \u201cslopes\u201d and \u201cplains\u201d. To understand Bourgueil wines one needs to understand the very specific topography of the area. What the French summarize in the concept of terroir<\/em>. Bourgueil red wines are the reflection of the soil in which the vines grow. Having to choose (only) four wineries in Bourgueil is always a heart breaker. Having to leave so many aside \u2026 But let\u2019s be realistic : how many cellars can one visit during a one or two-day stay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My guess would be \u2026 four. I\u2019ve seen some crazy wine addicts visiting the whole four in just one afternoon. That, of course, is always possible. All the more that we have selected these wineries in Bourgueil within a 3 mile radius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let\u2019s start the wine tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine stop #1 : Domaine Breton. Named after the eponymous grape variety!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Catherine and Pierre Breton<\/a> have this joyfully evocative last name : \u201cBreton\u201d. In the Bourgueil region \u201cCabernet Franc\u201d is also called \u201cCabernet Breton\u201d, \u201cPetit Breton\u201d, or more simply \u201cBreton\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Breton winery only produces natural wines. 100% of the vineyard is cultivated according to biodynamic principles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vignoble
Bourgueil vineyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The wine range is large and varied. At the lower price range end you will find a light and fragrant vintage called \u201cTrinch\u201d, produced from the gravelly soils of the plain. But the finest (more expensive) wines come from the hillside : \u201cLe Grand Mont\u201d (literally : \u201cThe high hill\u201d) and \u201cLes Perri\u00e8res\u201d originate from one of the most beautiful areas of the Bourgueil vineyard. The latter cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, rich in tannins in its youth, develops all its complexity over the years to become an extraordinary ripe and spicy wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sip the Loire’s Finest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wine stop #2 : Domaine de La Butte. At the top of the hill.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Domaine de la Butte<\/a> is owned by the (not only) locally famous Jacky Blot who first revealed his talent in Montlouis : he is also the owner of the Domaine de la Taille aux Loups<\/a>
which produces some of the most splendid white wines in the Vouvray area, just 40 miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his Bourgueil estate, Jacky Blot gave a close attention to what made his vineyard so special : being on a hillside. The \u201cslope\u201d (la pente<\/em>) produces very different wines at the top, the middle and bottom of the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why he decided to bottle three different cuv\u00e9es<\/em> accordingly: \u201cHaut de la Butte\u201d (\u201cTop of the Hill\u201d), \u201cMi-Pente\u201d (\u201cMid-slope\u201d) and \u201cPied de la Butte\u201d (\u201cBottom of the Hill\u201d). The \u201cMi-Pente\u201d cuv\u00e9e is the most structured, while the \u201cPied de la Butte\u201d seduces with its fresh sweetness, full of red fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to know more about this winery, I can only suggest you read Craig Heschuk\u2019s post about Jacky Blot and the Re-Invention of Chenin Blanc<\/a> (and listen to the Wine Beat\u2019s<\/a> great podcast episodes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine stop #3 : Staying at the top (of the hill), welcome to the Domaine de la Chevalerie<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A little further east, but still in the heights of Benais<\/em> (a fine small typical village of the appellation), welcome to the Domaine de Chevalerie<\/a>, home of the illustrious Caslot family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you will experience sheer passion and generosity. The wine tasting takes place in a beautiful cellar dug in the rock, as it should be in the Loire Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Domaine de la Chevalerie is one of the few estates where tasting takes you through a series of different terroirs<\/em> and vintages. The tasting process is well thought out, in a logical order that leaves room to serendipity. A heavenly journey across the winery\u2019s fine cuv\u00e9es : Galichets, Bret\u00eache, Chevalerie, Busardi\u00e8res, Peu Muleau,\u2026 Joy, enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the journey will no doubt be the domaine\u2019s \u201cVin de Garde\u201d. If the name may seem less poetic, do not be fooled. The name is different, the wine is also different. The top of the top of \u2026 the hill, with superb concentration, structure and complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final stop: Nau Fr\u00e8res, simple splendid Bourgueil wines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have always had a soft spot for the wines of these three brother-winemakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the Nau Fr\u00e8res<\/a> estate has produced wines of impressive quality and consistency over the years.
As a reminder, the Nau Fr\u00e8res winery is located in Ingrandes de Touraine, not far from the banks of the river Loire, where the alluvial soils produce lighter and fresher Bourgueils, with aromas of red fruits and licorice. The \u201cBlotti\u00e8res\u201d and the \u201cVarennes\u201d cuv\u00e9es<\/em> are two simply incredible value for money wines (less than 10$ when bought directly at the winery).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The estate also offers a rather pleasant ros\u00e9, while the powerful and more complex cuv\u00e9e<\/em> \u201cBruneti\u00e8res Vieilles Vignes\u201d always offers a frank, sincere and highly pleasurable tasting experience (red fruit aroma + structure + tight tannins).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEven though the dog has four legs, it cannot take two paths at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

African say<\/strong><\/a>
(we’ll let you figure it out)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These\u00a0fantastic four<\/em>\u00a0are not fictional superheroes. They exist in real life! In this post, we will list what we believe are four of the best wineries in Bourgueil and its appellation. Hoping this will help you in planning your wine trip to the Loire Valley and preparing for THE ultimate wine tasting experience in Bourgueil. Follow the 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