Bourgueil

France · AOC (PDO) · Loire Valley

Styles

Natural factors

One third of the vineyard rests on a south-facing slope, while the remaining two thirds lie on terraces and ridges locally known as 'montilles'.
The soils at the foot of the slope are calcareous brown soils developed over the Turonian tuffeau chalk, while mid-slope soils are predominantly argillo-siliceous, derived from Senonian formations. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
At the base of the slope, soils developed over ancient alluvial terraces and the 'montilles' are free-draining, sandy-gravelly, and more or less stony.
The climate here is appreciably milder and drier than that of the rest of Touraine, with temperatures running approximately one degree higher and rainfall around 75 millimetres lower. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
The wooded plateau crowning the viticultural slope provides protection against cold winds from the north.

Human factors

The Cabernet franc grape variety, known locally as 'breton', is the principal variety of the appellation, almost certainly introduced via river routes, and its establishment was encouraged by the political union of Anjou and Aquitaine in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
The vineyard planted on the ancient alluvial terraces long resisted phylloxera, as its spread was slower through sandy soils, and was replanted exclusively with Cabernet franc, reflecting the growers' attachment to this variety adopted during the Middle Ages.

Product characteristics

The red wines display a colour ranging from deep ruby to profound garnet, with a tannic structure that is often well-defined yet integrated, and aromas of red and black fruits.
The rosé wines most often show aromas of small red and white fruits, fresh and fairly intense, sometimes lifted by a note of citrus or pepper.

Terroir / wine link

The sandy-clay or sandy-gravelly soils of the terraces favour a fruity aromatic expression, with fine, supple tannins from the year of harvest.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.