Domaine de la Butte
Mi-Pente Bourgueil Cabernet Franc
Bourgueil, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
Jacky Blot sadly passed away recently, and oversaw in his time two Loire domaines that produce Chenin and Cabernet Franc respectively. I tried last year one of his whites, which blew me away, and enjoyed a similar experience with the 2018 ‘Mi-Pente’, a single vineyard Cab Franc from Bourgueil. This being my first wine from Bourgueil and one of a tiny few Cab Francs that I’ve tried from the Loire as a whole, I would have no idea where to place this in a blind tasting. But my word, what a spectacular wine!
It’s so enticing on the nose - initially quite bretty, but then broadening out to reveal aromas of fresh cherry, cranberry and blackcurrant, along with a savoury edge comprising cedar, tobacco, lavender and tomato leaf. The palate is at once fresh but powerful, structured and elegant; savoury with flecks of sweet cherry chocolate. This is an engrossing wine, utterly drinkable with great ageing potential. I am totally smitten, and look forward to trying more wines from this domaine in the future.
94+
Jacky Blot sadly passed away recently, and oversaw in his time two Loire domaines that produce Chenin and Cabernet Franc respectively. I tried last year one of his whites, which blew me away, and enjoyed a similar experience with the 2018 ‘Mi-Pente’, a single vineyard Cab Franc from Bourgueil. This being my first wine from Bourgueil and one of a tiny few Cab Francs that I’ve tried from the Loire as a whole, I would have no idea where to place this in a blind tasting. But my word, what a spectacular wine!
It’s so enticing on the nose - initially quite bretty, but then broadening out to reveal aromas of fresh cherry, cranberry and blackcurrant, along with a savoury edge comprising cedar, tobacco, lavender and tomato leaf. The palate is at once fresh but powerful, structured and elegant; savoury with flecks of sweet cherry chocolate. This is an engrossing wine, utterly drinkable with great ageing potential. I am totally smitten, and look forward to trying more wines from this domaine in the future.
94+
Elegant nose with black currant leaf, green pepper, plus a rocky, graphite note. Very classic. Nicely structured with juicy acidity and very finely grained tannins. Great balance and purity here, fresh black currants in all forms.
A truly fine wine.
Elegant nose with black currant leaf, green pepper, plus a rocky, graphite note. Very classic. Nicely structured with juicy acidity and very finely grained tannins. Great balance and purity here, fresh black currants in all forms.
A truly fine wine.