September 2011

Chavignol Rules

“The Boulay style is a world away from the regular refreshing but forgettable norm….…[it] should really be compared with a white burgundy in terms of its rewards and complexity.” Jancis Robinson MW

“A conscientious grower with a growing collection of old vines; Boulay’s wines – while delicious in youth – can be riveting after 7-12 years.” David Schildknecht, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

A 2009 Gerard Boulay reprise. This is our second and final shipment the 2009 wines. Quantities are predictably scarce. Please get in early if you wish to secure some of these remarkable Sancerres.  

The steep, south facing, limestone slopes that tower over the tiny hamlet of Chavignol offer one of the world’s more remarkable terroirs. In fact Chavignol (within the Sancerre AOC) does for Sauvignon what the greatest vineyards of Piemonte do for Nebbiolo. They offer us a perfect symbiosis; a perfect match of soil, aspect, climate and grape variety. And like Piemonte, the local foods have evolved to match the wines produced. For example, the goat cheese Crottin de Chavignol, is simply one of the greatest matches for Sancerre (and Chavignol in particular). We urge you to try them together! In Chavignol, the best wines have nought to do with varietal character; the grape simply plays conduit to the mineral freshness of the Kimmeridgian limestone soils and the sun trapping, south facing exposition. This terroir creates (in the right hands) whites with that rare combination of riotous pleasure and thought-provoking stimulation. Importantly, Chavignol tempers Sauvignon’s herbaceous tendencies generating thrilling smoky, stone fruit noted whites of superior clarity, texture and crunchy fruit character. This is Sancerre that will please even those who think they don’t like Sauvignon!

Gerard Boulay is one of the benchmarks of this tiny... learn more