Xavier Courant Les Valseuses Bourgueil 2023

Profile & Story

Domaine de l'Oubliée is Xavier Courant's 4-hectare estate in Saint-Patrice, one of the six villages of AOC Bourgueil, established in 2009. Farming follows natural, organic and biodynamic principles in both vineyard and cellar, with Xavier collaborating with neighboring Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil growers on home-made biodynamic preparations from local plant matter and compost; work is done by hand, including disbudding and harvest with seasonal pickers. ‘Les Valseuses’ is a pétillant naturel made from a small parcel of Chenin Blanc grown on clay, flint and limestone soils – a rarity on an estate planted mostly to Cabernet Franc. Xavier names his cuvées after Bertrand Blier films; ‘Les Valseuses’ (‘the dancers’) nods to the playful character of the bubbles.