Domaine Guion – Bourgueil “Cuvée Prestige”

There are few properties in France that can boast such a great pioneering legacy in organic farming as Domaine Guion. In the 1950’s, the Guion family established their farm in the heart of the Bourgueil appellation, a stone’s throw from the banks of the Loire River. Since it was a polycultural estate, the family was able to live almost entirely off the land. By 1965, they began farming organically, with a holistic understanding of its effects far ahead of their time. Since taking the reins from his father in 1994, Stéphane Guion has a put a much greater emphasis on viticulture, managing 8 ½ hectares of land. Quiet and curious, he is a respected member of the vigneron community in Bourgueil and is often consulted by other growers eager to adopt organic farming practices. While Stéphane rarely appears at tastings and tradeshows, it is clear that the extra time in the vineyards and cellars is well spent. While occasionally eclipsed by its more high-profile neighbor, Chinon, the Cabernet Franc of Bourgueil is often regarded as more age-worthy. Situated on meticulously cultivated clay and limestone soils, the Guions’ vineyards range from 10-80 years old, with the younger vines designated for the “Cuvée Domaine” and the older for the “Cuvée Prestige.” Stéphane prunes the buds rather than clusters to achieve a judicious yield and hand-harvests all of his fruit. Once in the cellar, he only employs native yeasts and allows a moderate maceration of the grapes. “Cuvée Domaine” is entirely fermented and aged in tank, while “Cuvée Prestige” is allowed at least 12 months in barrel to age. Stéphane’s rare “Cuvée Deux Monts” is named for the peaks above his two vineyard parcels. In most years, the grapes from this lieu-dit, situated at the top of his two vineyards, are blended into the “Prestige,” however in exceptional years such as 2009, it stands proudly as Domaine Guion’s top-of-the-line bottling. Once the bottles are ready for aging, they are stored in a large cave shared with six other families that once served as a historic Resistance hideout during World War II. Rustic, focused, and lively, with fresh acidity and minerals, the wines of Domaine Guion are known for their fine tannins, great aging potential, and terrific price. AOC Bourgueil “Cuvée Prestige” 40-85 Years Clay /Limestone Cabernet Franc 2.5ha