COUNTRY :
France
REGION :
Auvergne
PRODUCTION :
25,000
Henri moved to Auvergne in 2021 to begin his new dream of making natural wine after a career in banking and insurance. He studied under Jerome Bressy of Gourt de Mautens and Thierry Allemand before starting his own label. His goal is to make non-dogmatic natural wine that expresses the varied terroir of Auvergne. By taking over the estate of Annie Sauvat in Boudes Henri has been able to hit the ground running with an already active winery. The domaine is 10.5 hectares in Boudes planted with Gamay (60%), Pinot Noir (30%), and Chardonnay (10%). This area once counted hundreds of hectares and these days is down to around forty hectares of vines. The steep slopes contain a wide variety of soils: volcanic lava flows and ash, a rainbow of marls, and limestone outcroppings. The oldest vines on the property were planted in 1987. The property is currently undergoing organic conversion. Lulu the horse helps with soil management. Mechanical work is difficult given the gradient of the hillsides. All wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, unfined, and unfiltered. Each plot and each variety is vinified separately and all wines are whole bunch. Sulfur use varies wine to wine, depending on what Henri feels is necessary.
“Qui Sait”
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: clay-sand rich in iron oxide
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press gamay (blanc de noirs)
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 1 g/l at bottling
“Contre-Nature”
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: decomposed basalt with marls, including blue quartz
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole bunch, short fermentation in stainless steel.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 1 g/l at bottling
“Au Chant de la Huppe”
Region: Auvergne
Grape: 60% Gamay, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: red clay with decomposed pink granite
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole bunch Gamay, direct press Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Co-fermented in stainless steel.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 1 g/l at bottling
Tout La-Haut
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Rosée d’Automne
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press rosé
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal
Rescapes
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Pinot Noir (rosé)
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press rosé
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Envol
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: a selection of the best gamay barrels blended with free run juice
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Entre Chien et Loup
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal
Ensauvages
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
A l’Aube
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
De Cendre et d’Ame
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Fleur de Peau
Region: Auvergne
Grape: Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 10.5 hectares
Soil: volcanic lava flow, ash, a rainbow of marls, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 10-30 years
Farming: undergoing organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:
Aging: 1 year neutral barrel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal