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Bouchié Chatellier, France

Domaine Bouchié Chatellier is one of the most outstanding producers in Pouilly Fumé.

Rubbing neighourly shoulders with the inimitable Didier Dagueneau, and with vines planted on the same Silex soils as Didier's, the domaine's gently tended vines benefit from that high proportion of flint, which stores and reflects the heat so well. The levels of resulting ripeness as well as the incredibly rich flinty minerality imbue the wine with a delicious complexity that few others can match.

Viticulture

Planted on Silex soils, which contains a high proportion of flint which stores and reflects heat well, providing levels of ripeness above others in similar climates as well as giving the wine an incredibly rich flinty minerality. They work "Selection Massale", replanting the vines when necessary with cuttings from exceptional old vines from the same or nearby vineyards. This is an ancient practice, of propogating vineyard's that have been replaced with vine clone nurseries as this benefits in the long term and helps to increase the individuality and uniqueness of the wine. The vineyards are sited at the top of the hill overlooking the gentle slopes down towards the Loire River and offer superb panoramic views. The oldest vines are around 65 years, and as with tradition are pruned single Guyot or Cordon Royat.

Winemaking

The winery is operated on a 3 level gravity flow system, using traditional white wine vinification methods. Winemaking is done as naturally as possible, with only minimal (if any) sulphur addition.

Highlights
  • Working "Selection Massale", replanting the vines when necessary with cuttings from exceptional old vines from the same or nearby vineyards.
  • Utilises a 3 level gravity flow system to move the wine around the winery.
  • Winemaking is done as naturally as possible, with only minimal (if any) sulphur addition.