Product Profile
Domaine Gérard Boulay Sancerre Tradition 2010
Light-Medium Bodied, Dry, White, Sauvignon Blanc, Drink Now or Cellar.
Tasting Notes
Tradition is a blend, handmade in artisanal quantities of various scattered parcels all situated on the slopes of Chavignol. The vines are aged between 30-40 years and wine is fermented in stainless steel and bottled with a very light filtration. 2010 is a sensational Loire vintage delivering stunningly focused yet ripe wines. You'll find loads of mineral and pink grapefruit character here along with just a touch of sweet green herbs. There's Boulay's classic Chavignol richness here but also bright, crisp, acidity and deep concentration from the fine 2010 vintage. Plenty of cut and definition and a long, stony, finish, makes this one the world's most remarkable Sauvignon Blancs. Irresistible now, the heat quenching freshness and bright citrus minerality is perfect for the summer, though can be enjoyed over the next half decade.
Producer
Domaine Gérard Boulay
This tiny producer is situated in Chavignol, the finest terroir of Sancerre. If there was one Grand Cru in Sancerre, Chavignol would be it. It is a slope of sheer chalk that produces the most mineral, Chablisesque whites in the Loire. Gerard Boulay traces his family’s history in Chavignol back to 1370 when Jean Boulay owned vineyards in the area. But it’s not just history that makes this producer so distinctive. Everything in the vineyard is done by hand. The wine ferments naturally, they add no yeast, minimal SO2 and in general don’t filter. The average vine age in the Boulay vineyards is over 45 years. Little wonder then that Gerard Boulay is producing some of the most distinctive wines in Sancerre.