Boutinot Seguret Les Cote Sauvage

Boutinot's love affair with the Southern Rhone spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot's seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhone grape varieties, old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan Noir, and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.

Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.

In July 2021 Domaine Boutinot Rhóne achieved the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE 3) certification This certification recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment with the focus on biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water.

Grenache, Syrah

Boutinot prefer high altitude east-facing vineyards with stony, argillaceous limestone terraces high above the 'slopes of 'slopes of schiste' above the pretty village of Séguret. In one such plot (planted well over fifty years ago) Boutinot find that Grenache Noir, intermingled here and there with some Syrah, benefits from the morning sun and even ripening temperatures. Grapes can only be harvested by hand in this unforgiving hillside terroir.

75% Grenache Noir, 25% Syrah

In the cellar vinification is traditional, with a long cuvasion using only naturally occurring wild yeasts, aided by regular remontage to release all the potential of the grapes and their skins. The wine is then allowed to mature for up 22 months in French oak, an equal combination of previously filled 228l barrels and 600l demi-muids.

Seductive, with typical finesse and showing all the purity of Grenache from the Rhóne, the lasting impression of this Séguret is the deft handling of the obvious oak character, giving great structure, good length and a satisfying finish.

An impressive, classic Seguret - about as good as Cotes du Rhone Villages gets! The nose is as explosive, plush and opulent as ever, layered with suggestions of exotic spices, cracked black pepper and streaked with vanilla. The palate is instantly appealing, polished and smooth on entry but steeped in depth and texture as the flavours swirl around, lengthen and delight. The lasting impression is satisfying - a big and opulent Grenache-driven wine with obvious oak quality, great structure, length and finish.

Match to big hearty casseroles, in winter try a lamb tagine with couscous; in summer a rich ratatouille topped with grilled tofu, or simply serve with a plate of mature hard cheese.