Domaine Gerard Boulay Sancerre à Chavignol 2023

Product Information: The 2023 Domaine Gérard Boulay Sancerre à Chavignol offers more fruit and richness than the previous vintage, with flavours of intense candied citrus, sweet herbs, kaffir lime, and white stone fruit, all intertwined with the wine’s signature slatey texture. It is deliciously salty, with vibrant minerality, caraway spice, and mouthwatering grip, leaving plenty to contemplate—especially how Boulay’s entry-level Sancerre delivers such serious value. Sourced from 35- to 50-year-old vines planted entirely in the limestone-rich soils of Chavignol, this cuvée draws fruit largely from the village’s esteemed hillside terroirs, including Les Chasseignes, Les Longues Fins, and La Rue de Veaux. These slopes provide a stark contrast to the more fertile plains where many Sancerre wines are produced. Additionally, Boulay incorporates fruit from younger vines in renowned terroirs like La Grande Côte, Clos de Beaujeu, and Monts Damnés. Fermentation occurs spontaneously, and the wine rests for eight months on its lees in tank, with a small portion fermented in a large wooden cask. Although this is the only blended cuvée in Boulay’s lineup, it still showcases the finesse, texture, and stony/salty minerality that has earned Gérard Boulay a reputation as one of France’s most respected vignerons. As noted by Rajat Parr in The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste, “Another great of Chavignol, the Boulay family’s first record of farming grapes dates to 1380, when the Clos de Beaujeu was already recognised as a great white wine. It still is today.” Maker: The Boulay family has been cultivating the soils of Chavignol since at least 1380, long predating many of their neighbours, and it shows in their remarkable holdings. The Domaine’s current winemaker, Gérard Boulay, is one of the village’s greats, producing some of the most distinctive and revered wines in Sancerre. Gérard’s deep respect for Chavignol’s terroir and history is evident in his commitment to traditional, hands-on viticulture and his avoidance of industrial winemaking methods. Chavignol, often referred to as the crown jewel of Sancerre, is frequently compared to the world’s most renowned white wine regions. The steep, limestone-rich slopes of this village—home to the historically revered vineyards of Les Monts-Damnés, La Grande Côte, and Clos de Beaujeu—consistently produce wines of incredible depth, texture, and mineral freshness, with less emphasis on varietal character. The top wines from Chavignol are known for their fleshy, textured qualities, where the grape serves as a conduit for the expression of the terroir. This village is also home to some of the most respected winegrowing families in Sancerre, including Boulay, the Dagueneau family, and the Cotat cousins. Philosophy: Gérard Boulay’s winemaking philosophy revolves around meticulous vineyard care and minimal intervention in the cellar. Working primarily with old vines planted by massale selection on high-quality rootstock, Boulay’s vines are planted at a higher density (7,500 vines per hectare) than most in Sancerre. The soil is ploughed, or grass is allowed to grow to prevent erosion, and the vineyard has been practicing organic viticulture for decades. In the cellar, Gérard uses wild fermentations, old oak barrels sourced from Alphonse Mellot (10- to 12-year-old barrels), and very little sulphur during the winemaking process. The wines are bottled without filtration, allowing the pure expression of the terroir to shine through. When compared to the finest white wines of France, particularly from Chablis and the Côte de Beaune, Boulay’s Sancerre wines stand out as remarkable bargains, delivering immense quality at a fraction of the price. Nose – Melon, Pink Grapefruit, White Pepper & Minerals A few swirls in the glass, it opens up to melon, pink grapefruit and light spice of white pepper and minerals. Palate – White Stone fruit, Rocky, Mouth coating Candied citrus, sweet herbs, Kaffir lime and white stone fruit intertwined with a lovely rocky texture. Finish – Chalky, Preserve Lemon, Mouthwatering Deliciously salty, mineral vibrancy, caraway spice and mouthwatering phenolic structure. It finishes with stony definition, chalky cut and great length. The Finer Details Style – White Wine Varietal – Sauvignon Blanc Country – France Region – Loire Valley Vintage – 2023 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 12.5% Other – Organic