Grande Reserve Sancerre Blanc

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.

“Grande Reserve” is expressing some exotic fruits sublimed by citrus character. Its persistence and its harmony find their origin in the well exposed vines and the nature of the soil. The vines are grown on a terroir of clays (65%) and limestone (35%) in the hills between Chavignol and Sancerre. The limestone gives to the wine its backbone, while the clay gives it flesh. Yields are deliberately low, with high-density cultivation and interrow grassing. 

Gentle, slow pressing as soon as the harvest arrives to preserve the aromatic potential of the grapes. Natural, cold clarification of the must. Fermentation in stainless steel vats (between 16 and 19°C). Aged on fine lees for 5 to 6 months. 

A generous wine with an expressive, distinctive bouquet combining grapefruit, pineapple, white flowers and boxwood. The palate is well-crafted, revealing richness and fullness, complexity and length. Its persistence and harmony stem from the exposure and quality of its clays and limestone terroir.