Domaine Henri Bourgeois : Les Côtes aux Valets 2018

Characteristics and tasting notes for Les Côtes aux Valets 2018 Domaine Henri Bourgeois

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour captivates with its golden shine and brilliance.

Nose
The bouquet reveals itself with finesse and subtlety, unveiling aromas of dried fruits such as almond and pistachio. These are joined by notes of orange zest and plum, accompanied by characteristic mineral and iodine nuances.

Palate
The attack is smooth, followed by a round and enveloping texture. The structure rests on a beautiful mineral backbone that gives the wine definition. The finish expresses remarkable saline freshness, punctuated by notes of mirabelle plum and citrus zest.

Food and wine pairing
This gastronomic wine pairs perfectly with white meats, fish and mature cheeses. It is ideally enjoyed with oysters roasted with Sancerre or a Crottin de Chavignol.

Service and storage
Les Côtes aux Valets 2018 is best served at a temperature of 12 to 13°C. This wine can be kept until around 2026 and will gain body and complexity after a few years of aging.

A parcel-specific Sancerre with a bold mineral character

The estate
Founded in 1950 by Henri Bourgeois in Chavignol with two hectares of vines, Domaine Henri Bourgeois expanded in the 1960s with the arrival of his sons Jean-Marie and Rémi. Today, Arnaud, Lionel and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois run this family estate, now in its tenth generation, which spans 72 hectares in the Loire. A pioneer of parcel-based winemaking and the first to age a flint-soil Sancerre in new oak barrels in 1984, the estate is ranked among the World's Best Vineyards and has been certified organic since 2023.

The vineyard
The Les Côtes aux Valets plot covers 1.06 hectares of clay-limestone soils in the Bannon sector, south of the Sancerre appellation. Planted in 1986, this vineyard was undergoing conversion to organic farming at the time of the 2018 harvest. The grapes are hand-picked at full ripeness, following berry tastings in the vineyard to determine the optimal harvest date.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes for the Les Côtes aux Valets 2018 cuvée are slowly pressed at low pressure for about three hours. The must is naturally clarified at 8°C for two to three days, with lees stirring to enhance aromatic potential. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks between 15 and 19°C for two thirds of the volume, and in 600-litre oak barrels for the remaining third, over a period of about thirty days. After the first racking, the wine is aged on fine lees in tank until Christmas, then rests for seven months before bottling.

Grape variety
100% Sauvignon Blanc