Sancerre Rouge

HISTORY  Henri Bourgeois, now in its 11th generation, covers 72 hectares of the esteemed Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations. Brought to fruition by Henri Bourgeois over 50 years ago, the vineyards lie on some of the most rugged hillside terrains, offering the best exposures in the Loire Valley.

From cultivating two hectares on the slopes of Chavignol, he took the audacious step in the 1950s of concentrating on his vines in an as yet unknown area. His sons, Jean-Marie and Rémi, joined him in the 1960s and continued the adventure. They discovered new terroirs, bought land, developed partnerships with other Sancerre families, and turned themselves into ambassadors for Sancerre’s reputation in France, then abroad.

Today, Arnaud, Lionel, and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois are just as much the heirs of those men as the initiators of the future of the vines and wines of the house. Though the family is forever striving to perfect their craft, they remain committed to Henri’s original viticultural vision of showcasing the purity of the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes and the unique beauty of the Loire Valley. 

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING  The family uses organic fertilizers, maintains meticulous control of the vines (green pruning, managing water stress, using cover crops, etc.) and engages in careful selection during harvest when the grapes have fully ripened. The steep, southfacing slopes vary between 40% to 60%. The elevation allows the vines to catch the sun perfectly, while microclimates and nearby springs keep the vineyard soils cool. 

The hills and ridges separating the village of Chavignol from Sancerre are composed of four diverse soil types: Terres Blanches (clay/limestone soils that give structure and minerality), Les Caillottes (chalky soils that provide fruitiness and vibrancy), “Marnes Kimméridgiennes” (chalky-clay soil mixed with fossils and oyster shells) and “Les Silex” (flint and clay soil situated alongside the Loire River and acting as a storage heater by accumulating the sun’s heat and radiating it to the vines, thus quickening the grapes maturation). Each soil type must be farmed distinctly to provide utmost quality and true expression of the terroir.

The Bourgeois family continuously improves winemaking techniques by seeking a constant balance between grape type and distinction of terroir. The gravity-flow winery employs gentle grape handling at each stage of winemaking from the maturation on fine lees to the bottling process. In addition to tank fermentation, a light use of oak is occasionally included in the production process to round out the wine and add a creaminess to the mouthfeel.

A fine red Sancerre, representative of the delicate Pinot Noir wines from the appellation, displaying a subtle range of aromas from Morello cherries and strawberries to light notes of oak.

Pinot Noir vines grown on a terroir of clays (65%) and limestone (35%). The limestone gives the wine its backbone while the clay gives it flesh. Controlled yields with high-density high crop density and between the rows.

Maceration for 12 days in oak vats, at a controlled temperature between 26 and 32°C, with daily pumping-overs and punching-downs to extract maximum color and tannins from the grapes. As soon as malolactic fermentation is over, the wine is matured both in oak barrels (1/3 of which is renewed each year) and in stainless-steel vats for a total of 10 months.

Supple, round and beautifully textured, this red Sancerre lets the Pinot Noir express itself with fullness and great charm. It is highly aromatic, with aromas of Morello cherries and strawberries and subtle notes of oak. Its structure and acidity will ensure it ages well, for 5 to 6 years.