Château de Bois Brinçon

It’s a while since we tasted the wines of Château de Bois Brinçon which is unforgivable since the domaine is just a few minutes from us.  We caught up with Xavier and Geraldine Cailleau at the Levée de la Loire a few weeks ago and tasted through their interesting range of wines. It’s always nice to have what I describe as ‘off-beat’ wines and Bois Brinçon has several little gems that are particularly interesting to the wine enthusiast.

The estate has been in the same family for 5 generations with Xavier and Geraldine Cailleau taking it to another level. In the past, fruit from the vineyards was sold to the local cooperative and it took Xavier and Geraldine 10 years to turn the vineyard around, converting all the vineyards to organic viticulture and little by little vinifying their own wines, that very quickly began to show their potential.  They now have vineyards in 6 local communes and are making some seriously interesting wines.

Cuvée Garance 2015 is a 100% Pinot d’Aunis, Vin de Table. This grape is used in the region but rarely vinified exclusively and it makes a delightful change.  Full of spicy white pepper and strawberry fruit, it’s light in colour and weight.  The peppery note continues through on the palate.  It would make an excellent match to griddled salmon. Original and different, it comes from 80 year old vines.

Grolleau ’83’ 2013 is another unusual wine that we liked very much.  The vines that produced this wine were 83 years old when the 2013 vintage was vinified. More often used to produce the famous fruity Rosé d’Anjou, this red is packed full of bramble fruit on the nose and palate.  It has a very attractive floral note and has good structure with mid-weight tannins. The parcel is just a hectare and very small yields of 22 hl/ha reveal the potential of this local grape variety.

Les Saules de Montbenault, Anjou Blanc 2014 comes from 80 ares located in the heart of the Layon in Faye d’Anjou on a unique terroir of volcanic rock. Densely planted and picked by hand, whole bunch pressed then fermented and aged in 400L oak futs, it has hints of stone fruit and mirabelle skins on the nose, a touch of wet wool and lovely minerality. There is a richness on the palate, full and fruity with a touch of grapefruit on the finish.  A really classy wine.

Chateau de Bois Brinçon

49320 Blaison-Gohier

Tel 02 41 57 19 62