Boutinot are a major UK wine importer and wholesaler, but they also own vineyards in South Africa, England and France. One of their projects is in Cairanne.
Paul Boutinot fell in love with the region, and in 2010 they bought a winery and vineyards in Cairanne, with seven plots planted with the classic varieties. They have 10 hectares of estate vineyards and with some grower partners, they are working with 20 hectares of vines. This is an impressive project, and I tasted a couple of the wines with Julien Dugas, the winemaker here.
Boutinot Argiles Blanches Cairanne Blanc 2022 France
13.5% alcohol. This is a blend of Grenache Blanc (70%), Roussanne and Clairette, fermented and aged in barrel, with 25% new and one made of acacia. Some fine spicy oak here with a cedary edge and a nice pure pear and citrus fruit palate. Well defined with nice focus and precision. Not completely typical because of the oak, but very stylish. 93/100
Boutinot Cairanne Les Six 2022 France
14.5% alcohol. Blending Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise, fermented and then matured in large format oak (6000 litre tronconic casks). Concentrated but fresh with raspberries and cherries and nice purity. Linear with lovely raspberry and cherry on the palate showing a sense of finesse. 94/100
Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Cairanne 2021 France
This is their top cuvée and is fermented in stainless steel and wooden tronconic vats, and then spent 22 months in various sized barrels (23% new oak). Powerful but with some elegance, and some fine spicy oak notes. Raspberry and cherry fruit with notes of cedar spice and pepper, with fine spices on the finish. 92/100
CAIRANNE