Bourgueil Les Haies, Sylvain Boton 2023

Sylvain Boton is one of the most exciting young names emerging from Bourgueil. After formative years working with respected Loire estates including François Crochet in Sancerre, Le Rocher des Violettes in Montlouis and Domaine de la Chevalerie in Bourgueil, Sylvain established his own domaine in 2022 with a clear ambition: to express the diversity and elegance of Bourgueil’s Cabernet Franc terroirs. Farming organically across a small collection of carefully selected parcels, he focuses on gentle viticulture and precise cellar work, allowing each vineyard to express its individual character. Les Haies is a single parcel Cabernet Franc from vines planted in 1928, rooted in pure white tuffeau limestone, one of Bourgueil’s most prized terroirs. This exceptional site produces a wine of remarkable depth while retaining the freshness and finesse that defines the appellation. Grapes are fully destemmed before undergoing a gentle 18 day infusion, extracting colour and structure without sacrificing elegance. The wine is then aged for 18 months in 500 litre old barrels, allowing the texture and complexity of the old vines to develop without masking the vineyard character. Dark cherry, raspberry and blackberry combine with violet, graphite, tobacco leaf and subtle earthy notes. The palate is beautifully balanced, with silky tannins, mineral tension and a long, refined finish that places Les Haies among the most compelling modern expressions of Bourgueil. Origin Restigné, Bourgueil, France Grapes Cabernet Franc Vintage 2023 Alcohol 12.5% Style Elegant, structured, mineral red Bottle size 75cl Winemaking Manual harvest, fully destemmed, spontaneous fermentation, gentle 18 day infusion, aged 18 months in 500 litre old barrels Notes Organic, Low intervention, Indigenous Grapes, Sustainable Viticulture