Xavier Milhade Wines
Château Boutisse 2019
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Purchased in 1996, the Milhade family have invested enormously in the vineyards and facilities at Boutisse and, above all, with their energy. Today Boutisse is no longer a surprise – dynamic young winemaker Marc Milhade has transformed this estate into an outstanding Saint-Emilion, with ripe, structured and engaging character.
Huge investments have been made into the vineyards since 1996, with several parcels of vines being completely replanted. When the soil was ripped and prepared for planting, large chunks of the recherché limestone were visible under the chalky clay topsoil. The vineyards enjoy an excellent southern exposure.
Vineyard
Relatively large for Saint-Emilion at 57 acres, Boutisse is planted largely with Merlot (88%) and the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), Cabernet Franc (1%) and Carmenere (1%). The estate is just at the eastern end of the fine limestone bedrock that underlies the very finest vineyards of Saint-Emilion, overlaid with clay-loam soils. The finesse and aromatic complexity from the limestone soils balance the energy and power brought by the clay soils.
Winemaking
Everything at the estate is orientated towards quality. After sorting, the grapes are gravity fed to small, temperature controlled stainless steel vats that are squat, in order to optimize cap to juice ratio and improve extraction. Underground concrete tanks allow run off by gravity. A part of the harvest is also fermented directly in 500 liter barrels. Natural yeasts trigger a prolonged fermentation, followed by a three week maceration for extraction of color, fruit and tannin. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new oak barrels in the adjacent cellars, 70% new. Fining is done with egg whites and racking is done every 3 month until bottling after 15-18 months.
Vintage
Globally, 2019 was the warmest year on record. The winter of 2019 was mild, with limited rain and only three days of frost. Spring was mild and temperatures were near-normal for the season, with abundant rainfall at the end of April and again between June 5th and June 18th. Despite the rain, the vineyards remained in a very good state throughout the year. Temperatures remained unseasonably warm with little rainfall leading up to harvest, resulting in concentrated ripeness; the wines are described as having “harmony, balance and freshness” (James Suckling) with “rich fruits, concentration, and plenty of tannins” (Decanter).
Tasting Note
Deep garnet, with a nose rich in spices including cinnamon, cloves, star anise and nutmeg that open up to more aromas of mocha, grilled bread and caramel. On the palate the wine is full-bodied but velvety, with elegant tannins and a long finish.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot
Appellation
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Farming
Since 2018, our 3 estates are all certified “High Environmental Value” Level III. This highest level of certification affirms our commitment and guarantees our management of numerous environmental parameters.
Alcohol
14.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$40
Reviews
More on Château Boutisse 2019
Château Boutisse classified as Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion
June 25, 2022 - [pdf-embedder url="https://www.vintus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Communique-Chateau-Boutisse-Grand-Cru-Classe-de-Saint-Emilion.pdf" title="Communiqué - Chateau Boutisse - Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Emilion"] The Milhade family has for four generations made wine on the right bank of Bordeaux, always as a…
Trade Materials
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