Lamé Delisle Boucard
Wines
Ingrandes-de-Touraine, Bourgueil
Bourgueil, “Vieilles Vignes”
Lamé-Delisle-Boucard’s “Vieilles Vignes” is pure Cabernet Franc exclusively from vines over 40 years of age in the commune of Ingrandes de Touraine—part from the sandy gravel terraces of the lieu-dit Louys, and part from hillside plantings in the clay-limestone of Mont Sigou. This cuvée undergoes alcoholic fermentation in tronconic oak casks with a 10-day maceration, then spends a year in large, very old 25-hectoliter foudres. Invitingly ripe on the nose and tinged with earth, it enters the mouth silkily, revealing its underlying minerality as it moves across the palate, and it closes with a gentle clench of supremely elegant tannins.
Bourgueil, “Prestige”
The domaine’s outstanding “Cuvée Prestige” comes from three steep hillside parcels of Cabernet Franc planted in clay-limestone: Beauvais, Brunetières, and Bézards. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in old wooden tronconic vats, with both punch-downs and pump-overs performed over the 20-day maceration, and it spends a year in very old foudres before bottling. More punchily mineral-driven than the “Vieilles Vignes” above and with a tighter-grained texture, it displays effortless equilibrium and gorgeously rendered dark-red and black fruits on an acid-driven frame.
Bourgueil, “Brunetières”
From the lieu-dit of Brunetières, located on the south-facing slopes of the Loire in the village of Ingrandes de Touraine, with clay-limestone terroir. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in conical wooden vats, with regular punching down and pumping over. The maceration lasted 18 days, with the malolactic completing in oak barrels. Aged in one-quarter new barriques and three-quarters foudre for 14 months. Classic spicy blackcurrant aromas and a firm spine—an ageworthy Cabernet Franc.
Bourgueil, “Martinière”
From a single southwest-facing limestone-rich parcel in the village of Benais, “Martinière” is pure Cabernet Franc vinified in tronconic oak casks with an 18-day maceration, then spends 14 months in a combination of 85% foudre and 15% new barrique. A profoundly stony wine, this offers a rich, layered texture, with intensely vibrant fruit and finely wrought, gently spreading tannins that drive a strikingly long finish.
