Gerard Boulay - "Comtesse" Sancerre 750ml 2022 (13% ABV)

top notch, Grand Cru, ageworthy, rare Sancerre (we got 3 bottles).

This family domaine ( located in Chavignol) can trace its history back to 1380. The land records for that year mention a Jean Boulay as owner of vineyards in Chavignol. At the time, the Clos de Beaujeu in Chavignol was already known for the quality of its white wine which is remarkable since Sancerre was known as a red wine area until after phylloxera invaded it. In the 14th century the Clos de Beaujeu supplied the Cathedral of Bourges with white wine. Of the 9ha owned by Gerard Boulay, 8 of the hectares are on the slopes of Chavignol on Kimmeridgian or “terre blanche” soils (similar to the soils in Chablis), which he works manually and has farmed organically since 1990. The youngest vines at the domaine were planted by Mr. Boulay in 1972 and the average vine age is approximately 45 years old. 

He describes his role as one of “surveillance” to make sure nothing goes wrong. In general he works by instinct, “au feeling” because he wants to “let the wine live” and tries not to interfere with the natural process.

Often the most powerful wine in Boulay's range, Comtesse is an expression of 50- to 70-year-old vines from the bottom of the warm, south-facing Mont Damnés slope.

dense, textured, full bodied Sauv Blanc that can age for decades.

region: Sancerre, Loire, France

varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

style: white

farming/cellar: organic, hand picked, ambient yeast, fermented in steel tank, aged in mixture of foudre and 300L barrels, minimal added so2

pairing: lobster roll, goat cheese, Thanksgiving turkey