La Bourgeoise Sancerre 2009 from the Loire, France

La Bourgeoise Sancerre 2009 from the Loire, France

The Bourgeois family have been making wine in Sancerre for ten generations  and is now run by Jean-Marie Bourgeois – having  grown from 2 to 65 hectares in the last 50 years, the domaine provides about half of the firm's needs, the rest purchased from local growers.

Henri Bourgeois produces a range of Sancerre and other appellations, principally Pouilly-Fumé and not to be forgotten the family's venture in New Zealand producing Clos Henri. La Bourgeoise, made from fifty year old vines grown on flinty soils on the southwest facing slopes of St Satur sells at about £22 and is vinified in stainless steel with some oak maturation. Less intense  aromas when compared to its New Zealand contemporary ( Clos Henri), but the grassy minerality exhibiting its terroir, It has a perfumed floral edge and  the lemon / green apple aromas are indicative of both area and grape variety.

Tasting it shows fresh acidity which keeps this wine fresh, the fruit ranges from lemon to greengager with a leafy grass and a flinty edge, the medium body and alcohol has a silky texture and is creamy on the mouth. A citric finish with a kick at the end has good length. This is a well knitted wine – enjoy!

Clos Henri Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Clos Henri Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2010, this Sauvignon Blanc is made with grape vines ( S.Blanc) from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the Loire, France. The makers are 10^th generation wine makers – the Henry Bourgeois family in the Loire, who decided in 2000 to plant grapes in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough and harvested them for the first time in 2000, and since then have gained a reputation. They have used both French and new world viticultural and winemaking techniques to capture the essence of Marlborough varietal character and reveal the identity of the Clos Henri Terroir. There are 3 distinct soil types which offer diversity in flavour for the grapes grown.

The wine itself was pale lemon in colour – sparkly and clear. Herbal, grass notes exceed the tropical notes one normally expects from Marlborough Sauvignons. There was also a twinge of sweat and florality, but not  as unpleasant as it sounds.

On the mouth green flavours, grass, greengage and herbs come through, again low tropical fruit notes and a hint of minerality, the high acidity keeping all fresh and the well integrated ( I cannot believe it is 14%) alcohol supports the structure of the wine, creaminess indicates lees contact – and this adds to the complexity in the mouth.

The Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2010 won the Special Trophy Award – Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World - at the Mondial du Sauvignon Competition which took place in Bordeaux earlier this year. The winemaker is Damien Yvon. And the 2011 won a silver medal in the Decanter Wine Awards