Domaine Henri Bourgeois : Le Graveron 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for the 2020 Graveron from Domaine Henri Bourgeois

Tasting

Color
Beautiful garnet color.

Nose
Black fruits, smokiness, fresh caramel, chocolate and spices intertwine in a broad, rich bouquet.

Palate
Lively and silky, the palate seduces with its fine tannins and aromas of red fruits and chocolate.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Sancerre rouge pairs perfectly with red meats such as côte de bœuf, white meats, marinated or sauced red meats, soft cheeses, or chocolate pastries (a morello cherry Black Forest cake).

The Structure and Richness of a Loire Wine

The Estate

From a family tradition dating back to 1696, the Domaine Henri Bourgeois has been managed since 2004 by Jean-Marie, Arnaud, Lionel and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois. Established on the terroirs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the estate primarily cultivates sauvignon blanc and pinot noir on emblematic parcels such as La Côte des Monts Damnés. A pioneer of organic farming in the region, the estate produced its first 100% organic vintage in 2023, seeking to reveal the unique expression of the Sancerre Kimmeridgian soils.

The Vineyard

"Le Graveron" is a Sancerre wine made from a 1.31-hectare plot, whose vines, planted in 1997, sit atop La Côte des Monts Damnés on marly soils.

Winemaking and Aging

Hand-harvested grapes. A rigorous sorting precedes destemming and gravity-fed transfer to wooden vats. Maceration lasts 4 to 6 days with daily pump-overs for optimal extraction of aromas and color. Alcoholic fermentation runs 8 to 10 days in large oak casks with two pump-overs and a daily manual punch-down until mid-fermentation. This Sancerre rouge is then racked by gravity into stainless steel tanks until spring, before undergoing malolactic fermentation in new or previously used barrels followed by barrel aging (228L and 600L) for 10 months.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir