Mikael Bouges

Formerly running his family's property Domaine de la Puannerie, Mikäel Bouges set up on his own following the break-up of the estate. Out of necessity he bought three key parcels of vines from his parents (La Pente de Chavigny, La Puannerie, & Coudriere) amounting to 4 hectares, while he rents a further 4 hectares.

Mikäel cultivates his vines organically, ploughing the flinty/clay/limestone/'perruche' soils to maximise the grapes natural acidities & using wild yeasts to capture the true character of the terroir. Vinification is presently carried out in a friend's chai up behind Montrichard, due east of Tours, while he scours the region for a suitable premises to buy.

Stylistically these wines are a world away from the tutti-frutti New World offerings being more understated, pebbly, persistent and wonderfully pure.