Day Trip to the Sancerre and Pouilly Vineyards
In a fun and educational way, travel this part of the Loire Valley, which could well be the cradle of Sauvignon in France... Why has this grape earned its reputation t...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2022: best 2023 to 2030.
vintage1 yrs8 yrs10 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vinous reviewed 2024 | 2022 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: lemon, white flower, chalk, white peach
Palate: citrus, saline mineral, pear, wet stone
Sourced from terres blanches plots in Sury-en-Vaux, Boucauds shows the marl-and-clay-over-Kimmeridgian face of the appellation. Stéphane Riffault's signature cuvée.
What it pairs with
- Sole grenobloise Caper-and-lemon brown butter sauce meets the wine's chalky citrus signature.More wines for fish →
- Crottin de Chavignol Sancerre classic; the wine's lift and salinity meet goat cheese tang and chalk.More wines for goat cheese →
- Asparagus with hollandaise Sauvignon's herbal lift bridges the vegetable's bitterness; saline mineral cuts egg-yolk richness.More wines for vegetables and salads →
- Razor clams with lemon Saline mineral edge and shellfish brine align; the wine's chalk handles olive oil and parsley.More wines for shellfish and oysters →
With cheese
History
Claude Riffault's Sury-en-Vaux estate is family-owned for four generations; son Stéphane now leads. Les Boucauds takes about half the estate's Sauvignon, all from terres blanches.
- 2003Single-parcel Les Boucauds bottling established
- 2015Estate fully converted to organic and biodynamic farming
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Claude Riffault · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Sancerre AOC
- Oak
- Vinified in stainless steel; aged on fine lees around 9 months, no oak
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2003
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ECOCERT
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Sancerre Les Boucauds
What does Riffault Les Boucauds taste like?
Lemon, white flower, chalk and white peach on the nose; citrus, saline mineral, pear and wet stone on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, chalky finish.
When should I drink Riffault Les Boucauds?
Drink between 1 and 8 years from vintage. The biodynamic farming and lees ageing give the wine textural depth that rewards 2 to 3 years in bottle.
Where is Les Boucauds grown?
On terres blanches (marl-and-clay over Kimmeridgian limestone) in Sury-en-Vaux, at the northern edge of the Sancerre AOC.
Is Riffault Les Boucauds vegan?
Yes. The estate is biodynamic and uses no animal-derived fining agents.
Tags
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