Domaine de la Butte : Le Haut de la Butte 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Le Haut de la Butte 2023 from Domaine de la Butte

Tasting Notes

Colour
The colour reveals a beautiful garnet red, both deep and brilliant.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of wild red fruits, enhanced by spicy touches of black pepper and sweet chilli, along with a subtle hint of fresh mint.

Palate
Juicy and invigorating, the palate offers a supple texture with moderate tannins. The wine charms with its generous character and lovely intensity, extending into a wonderfully fresh finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted red meats, lamb, duck, and small game. It also complements lightly smoked or spiced dishes very well, such as paprika-marinated skewers or smoked aubergine caviar.

Serving and Cellaring

To fully appreciate Le Haut de la Butte 2023, it is recommended to decant it while young and serve it at a temperature of around 17°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to develop favourably until around 2033.

The Freshness and Generosity of a Bourgueil Wine

The Estate

Located in France, in the Loire Valley, Domaine de la Butte was taken over in 2002 by Jacky Blot. This roughly fifteen-hectare vineyard stands out for its exclusive planting of Cabernet Franc and its organic farming practices. Since 2023, Jean-Philippe Blot, the current owner, has been running the estate. He continues a philosophy centred on a parcel-by-parcel and vertical reading of the terroirs, establishing the estate as one of the leading references of its appellation.

The Vineyard

Sourced from the northern part of the Bourgueil appellation, this cuvée comes from vines aged between 20 and 50 years, located at the top of the hillside. Facing due south and protected from frost by a forest upslope, this terroir is composed of poor soils blending sand, limestone and clay over a limestone bedrock. The vineyard is entirely farmed organically, with soil tilled by ploughing and grapes harvested exclusively by hand.

The Vintage

The year 2023 was marked by climatic conditions that favoured beautiful fruit generosity. This vintage brings a remarkable richness that perfectly wraps around the natural tension and verticality of this high-altitude terroir.

Winemaking and Ageing

After careful destemming, fermentation of Le Haut de la Butte 2023 is triggered by indigenous yeasts, with no chaptalisation whatsoever. Maceration lasts around a month, with a few measured pump-overs and punch-downs for gentle extraction. Ageing then takes place exclusively in stainless steel tanks for a period of 6 to 24 months, in order to preserve the brightness of the fruit.

Grape Variety

100% Cabernet Franc