Charles Bouly
Le Fresne Sur Loire
In 2019 Charles and his family took over vineyards in Ingrandes le Fresne sur Loire, a small commune in the Maine et Loire located at the edge of the Loire. Their 8.5Ha of vineyards are composed of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin, Pineau D'Aunis and Grolleau.
Charles currently works full time on the estate alone and his partner Laure is set to join him in a few years (their children are still very young). They cultivate the vines organically and are testing biodynamic techniques with the help of neighboring winemakers. They are trying different things like letting grass grow in the vineyard during hot weather to protect the soil from rising temperatures, in order to adapt to the changing climatic conditions.
In terms of winemaking, they are still experimenting to work best with their terroir and to express it in the best way. They focus on adapting to the needs of the grapes obtained each specific vintage. Their goal is to produce wine in the most resilient way possible to make way for generations to come.
2021
Vdf "Pineau d'Aunis" 2021
VARIETY: Pineau D’aunis
TERROIR : 8 year old vines on black schist hillsides.
HARVEST : by hand
VINIFICATION :
Whole cluster fermentation initiated by a light foot pressing for a carbo maceration of 7 days before grapes are then all pressed and liquified for final fermentation period. Clarified and bottled in the spring.
2020
Vdf "Cabourne Rouge" 2020
VARIETY: 50% Cab Franc/ 50% Cab Sauv
TERROIR : 50 year old vines on black schist hillsides.
HARVEST : by hand
VINIFICATION : Manually destemmed bunched macerated in vats. Alternation between delestage (separating the solid from the liquid in fermentation, transferring the musts from one vessel to an other until all of it is removed. Once the marc crushes itself under it’s own weight, the musts are added back in) and light pumping over is used to achieve the right extraction especially in the beginning of the fermentation.
Maceration lasts 2 weeks, then the wine is drained and remaining marc is pressed. All the wines are assembled at pressing. Aged 18 months in concrete.
Vdf "La Jacqu'rie" 2020 Rosé (
VARIETY: Cab Sauv
TERROIR : 30 year old vines on black schist hillsides.
HARVEST : by hand
VINIFICATION : Slowly pressed grapes overnight. Pied de cuve fermentation.
Aged 18 months in concrete