Domaine de la Butte Les Côteaux du Levant Bourgueil 2021

Domaine de la Butte Les Côteaux du Levant Bourgueil 2021 is a finely etched, terroir-driven Cabernet Franc from one of the Loire Valley’s most admired estates. Drawn from a single, exceptional parcel at the very top of the domaine’s hillside vineyard, it represents a more detailed, lifted and ageworthy expression than the domaine’s classic Bourgueil cuvées. First bottled separately in 2018 by Jacky Blot and his son Jean-Philippe, this wine celebrates the singular character of an old-vine plot that had long been a hidden star in the blend.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Les Côteaux du Levant 2021 shows a deep, vibrant ruby core with a luminous rim, reflecting both concentration and freshness. The nose is precise and elegant, opening with wild raspberry, black cherry and redcurrant, followed by signature Cabernet Franc notes of violets, graphite and fresh-cut herbs. As it unwinds, you’ll find layers of wet stone, flint, gentle cedar, and a hint of smoked tea that speaks clearly of its limestone-rich terroir. On the palate, the wine is taut yet silky, with a finely woven structure. Juicy red and black fruits are framed by lively acidity and ultra-refined tannins, giving a feeling of both tension and finesse. There’s a palpable mineral backbone, with saline, chalky nuances and a subtle hint of spice from élevage in wood. The finish is long, vertical and pure, suggesting very good aging potential: this 2021 will drink beautifully over the next 8–12 years, gaining complexity, softness and aromatic depth with time in bottle.

Production
Les Côteaux du Levant comes from a single, upper-slope parcel situated around 100 meters above sea level on Domaine de la Butte’s three-tiered hillside in Bourgueil. Here, more than 50-year-old Cabernet Franc vines, farmed organically, sink their roots into compact clay shot through with flint, underpinned by a solid chalk (tuffeau) subsoil—a classic Loire combination that yields wines of precision, energy and minerality. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand at optimal ripeness and then meticulously sorted to keep only perfectly healthy, fully mature fruit. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts and takes place over about a month in a mix of wooden and concrete vats, allowing for gentle extraction and fine-grained tannins. After fermentation, roughly one third of the wine is aged in large wooden casks, with the remainder maturing in various smaller barrels, bringing texture and complexity while preserving the purity of fruit and the chalky, saline edge of the terroir. Sulfur and interventions are kept to a moderate minimum, staying true to the character of the site.

Food & Serving
This Bourgueil is a superb partner for refined dishes that echo its aromatic finesse and structure: think roast duck with cherries, herb-crusted lamb, veal chops, or grilled pork with fennel and black olives. It also pairs beautifully with charcuterie, earthy lentil dishes, roasted root vegetables and semi-aged cheeses such as Tomme, Cantal or a lightly matured goat cheese from the Loire. Serve at 15–16°C (about 59–61°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic lift. In its youth, decanting for 45–60 minutes helps the wine open and soften the tannins; as it evolves in bottle, a brief 20-minute carafe will be enough to awaken its layered bouquet.

Producer
Domaine de la Butte, created and developed by the late Jacky Blot and now stewarded by his son Jean-Philippe, is one of the benchmark estates of Bourgueil and the wider Loire Valley. Known for his meticulous approach and strong belief in terroir expression, Jacky was instrumental in elevating Cabernet Franc to a new level of precision and elegance in the region, with organic farming, low yields and minimal intervention as house principles. Les Côteaux du Levant, singled out only from the 2018 vintage, reflects the domaine’s drive to highlight individual parcels and their unique character. Today, Domaine de la Butte is regarded as a reference for serious, ageworthy Bourgueil, frequently praised by critics and collectors for its combination of purity, structure and minerality.

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