# Les Baronnes (2024)

- **Producer:** Henri Bourgeois
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €45
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lemon, lime, gooseberry, exotic fruit, white-fleshed fruit, biscuit, pastry, wet stones, chalk

## About this wine

Les Baronnes by Henri Bourgeois is a white wine from the Sancerre appellation in the Loire Valley, France, produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine hails from the Henri Bourgeois estate, a family winery with a history dating back to 1650, spanning ten generations. The grapes are sourced from vineyards situated on hills and ridges characterized by clay and limestone chalk soils, a terroir known for imparting persistence and harmony. The 2024 vintage experienced challenging weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, which resulted in lower yields but is expected to yield fruit with enhanced concentration and freshness. The Bourgeois family's winemaking philosophy emphasizes revealing the distinct terroirs of Sancerre and expressing the nuances of their grape varieties through meticulous viticulture and precise winemaking.

## Interesting facts

- The Bourgeois family has been making wine for over 350 years.
- The estate was a pioneer in Sancerre's single-vineyard winemaking.
- Grapes are grown on hillsides with a specific clay-limestone soil mix.
- The 2024 vintage faced challenging weather, resulting in a smaller harvest.

## Food pairing

The wine's high acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty fish, while its citrus and mineral notes complement the delicate flavors of seafood and goat cheese. Herbal undertones in the wine can echo herbs used in dishes, creating a harmonious bridge.

## Wine making process

Les Baronnes is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown on clay-limestone soils in Sancerre. After harvest, the grapes undergo gentle pressing to preserve their aromatic qualities. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats at 15-18°C, a method chosen to maintain the wine's freshness and aromatic complexity. Post-fermentation, the wine is aged for five months on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks. This 'sur lie' aging contributes to the wine's texture and depth. The Bourgeois family employs meticulous viticulture, including organic practices and grassing of inter-rows, with a philosophy focused on expressing the unique terroirs of Sancerre.