Domaine de la Chevalerie, 2017 Bourgueil 'Dyptique'
Cab Franc du Jour #65
The Caslot family can trace its roots in Bourgueil back to 1640. Following the passing of Pierre Caslot in 2014, his children Emmanuel, Stéphanie, and Laurie, the 13th generation, took up the reins at the estate. Regrettably, Stéphanie passed away earlier this year. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but everything I have read suggests she was one of the warmest, kindest, and most generous people in this business, a trait that clearly runs in the family: Laurie was extraordinarily enthusiastic and giving when I reached out with questions about their vineyards and wines, and I am deeply grateful for the effort she made.
The family today farms 33 hectares of vines, predominantly in the commune of Restigné, with some parcels in Benais, specifically in the lieu-dit Grand-Mont. All of their vineyards are farmed to certified biodynamic standards.
The Commune of Restigné
Restigné is located on the east side of the Changeon River and, along with the commune of Bourgueil on the opposite bank, is one of only two communes in the appellation with vineyards on both the ancient alluvial terraces and the tuffeau chalk slopes.
The vineyards begin about 3km north of the Loire River and stretch roughly 4km from east to west. At the centre of the commune and toward the base of the slope, the deep ancient alluvial soils sit over the Lower Turonian tuffeau bedrock. Moving northeast and up the slope for roughly 2km toward the forests, topsoils become shallower and the influence of the Middle and Upper Turonian tuffeau bedrocks takes over, depending on elevation. At the very northern edge of the commune, deep Senonian-era clays and sands mixed with flint appear. Even within this relatively small commune, the diversity of terroirs is considerable.
The Vineyard
Today’s wine comes from approximately 6 hectares of vineyards across several parcels on the ancient alluvial terrace at the base of the slope. The soil profile runs to about 160cm before the bedrock is reached, with approximately 10cm of sandy-silt topsoil carrying some gravel, quartz, and flint, followed by a subsoil of mixed sand, silt, and clay with an increasing proportion of chalk pebbles and gravel with depth. The vines are 35 to 40 years of age.
These alluvial terroir soils are best suited to producing softer, earlier-drinking styles of Cabernet Franc, and the approach in the cellar reflects that character. Maceration times are shorter, cap management is gentle, and maturation is kept brief to preserve freshness and fruit expression.
In the Cellar
The fruit is fermented with indigenous yeast in concrete, spending approximately 22 days on skins with a few pump-overs during that time. Aging takes place in concrete for around 12 months before bottling.
Wine Details
Producer: Domaine de la Chevalerie
Appellation: Bourgueil
Commune: Restigné
Lieux-Dits: Multiple
Soil: ancient alluvium- 160cm of topsoil and subsoil, comprised of mostly sand and silt, before hitting the Turonian tuffeau bedrock.
Alcohol: 13.0%