Domaine de la Butte Perrières Bourgueil 2020

Domaine de la Butte Perrières Bourgueil 2020 is a pure Cabernet Franc from one of the Loire Valley’s most respected estates, crafted by the late Jacky Blot’s team with the same precision and care that made the domaine famous. Sourced from a single parcel on limestone bedrock overlain by heavy clay, it marries mineral finesse with a touch more generosity and flesh than its sibling cuvée, Mi-Pente. This bottling showcases the classic Bourgueil personality—refined structure, vivid fruit and savoury complexity—while reflecting a specific, historic terroir long prized for Cabernet Franc.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Perrières presents a deep, vibrant ruby with a youthful purple rim. The nose opens with pure Cabernet Franc markers: red and black cherry, ripe raspberry and wild plum, layered with graphite, crushed stone, violets and a hint of fresh tobacco leaf. Subtle notes of pepper, cedar and a touch of cocoa from the small proportion of new oak add further dimension without overshadowing the fruit. On the palate, the wine is precise yet supple, showing a slightly more generous mid-palate than the Mi-Pente thanks to the clay-rich topsoil. Juicy dark berries, blackcurrant and red cherry are framed by fine, chalky tannins and a vibrant, mouth-watering acidity. There’s a clear limestone-driven minerality, with savoury tones of graphite, dried herbs and a faint smokiness that carry through to a long, linear finish. Compared with the darker, more brooding 2019, the 2020 is a touch less dark-spiced and a bit more open-knit and aromatic in its youth. Well-structured but not austere, it has very good aging potential—expect it to develop gracefully over 8–15 years, gaining complexity in its earthy, truffled and cigar-box nuances.

Production
Perrières comes from a single, south-facing slope in Bourgueil where Cabernet Franc vines are rooted in a limestone plateau (the same formation as Mi-Pente) covered by a substantial layer of dense clay. This combination of hard rock and moisture-retentive topsoil gives both tension and depth to the wine: the limestone drives freshness and minerality, while the clay provides a steadier water and nutrient supply, yielding slightly richer fruit. Grapes are harvested by hand with strict selection in the vineyard to ensure perfect ripeness and health. The bunches are fully destemmed, then undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in a mix of wooden and concrete vats, preserving the authenticity of the terroir. Aging takes place in smaller oak barrels, about 20% of which are new, to add subtle texture and complexity without dominating the character of the wine. The cuvée is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with only moderate sulfur additions, in keeping with the domaine’s low-intervention philosophy.

Food & Serving
This Bourgueil is a superb partner for dishes that echo its balance of elegance and savoury depth. Think roast duck with cherries, lamb chops with herbs, grilled pork tenderloin, or classic bistro fare like entrecôte with sautéed mushrooms. It also pairs beautifully with charcuterie, aged goat’s cheese (a natural Loire match), Comté, and mushroom-based dishes or lentil stews. Serve at 15–17°C (59–63°F) to highlight its aromatic lift and freshness. A gentle decant of 30–60 minutes in its youth will help the tannins relax and allow the floral and mineral notes to emerge; older bottles (8+ years) should be decanted briefly only to remove sediment.

Producer
Domaine de la Butte, founded and developed by visionary vigneron Jacky Blot, is one of the flagship estates of Bourgueil and a reference point for Cabernet Franc in the Loire. Blot was an early champion of rigorous vineyard work, low yields and minimal intervention in the cellar, applying the same uncompromising standards here as at his acclaimed Montlouis estate, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups. The domaine is composed almost entirely of a single hillside, meticulously divided into parcels such as Perrières and Mi-Pente to showcase the nuances of soil and exposure. Through precise viticulture, organic principles, and sensitive use of oak, Domaine de la Butte has helped redefine the image of Bourgueil from rustic country red to finely structured, ageworthy wine, earning consistent praise from critics and a devoted following among Loire enthusiasts worldwide.

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