Serge & Bruno Sourdais

The domaine was founded in 1850 and has been in the Sourdais family for six generations. Bruno Sourdais took over the running of the domaine in 2008, having first joined his father Serge, in 1990. Today he works with 55 hectares, with the majority of the vineyards being located on the slopes above the villages of Cravant, Chinon and Panzoult. As is the norm here, Bruno produces a ‘basic’ cuvee, Sourdais Taveau, from the vines grown on the plain below the cellar. Here the vines range from 5 to 15 years of age and the wine is bottled in the spring following the harvest. The La Logis de la Bouchardiere, which first beguiled me, is produced from similarly located vineyards, but from older vines of around 30 years. This is still a wine to enjoy relatively young, but with more style and complexity than the Sourdais Taveau.

In addition, there are three lieux-dits. These include 1 ha of the well renowned Chene Vert, which has obviously become synonymous with Charles Joguet. Here, Bruno rents the vines from his father-in-law. The parcel is younger than Joguet’s vineyard at 30 years of age and enjoys a different exposition, facing south west. The Sourdais’ Chene Vert is matured for 1 year in barrique.

In addition, there is the 6 ha Le Clos, situated on the slopes above Cravant, with well drained, flinty soils, sporting vines of 35 to 45 years of age. The star for me however, was the Les Cornuelles Vieilles Vignes. This 2.5 ha, south-facing vineyard, takes its name from the flat limestones that form the terroir here and the vines range from over 100 years, to the ‘young vines’ planted by Bruno’s grandfather some sixty years ago!