Domaine de Boissan
(Rhône/France)
This estate was established in the Southern Rhône in the 1700s. It is now run by Christian Bonfils, who is the fifth generation of his family to run the estate, and his wife Cathy, who hails from a winemaking family in Pommard, Burgundy. In 1982, Christian inherited the winery and vineyards in and around Sablet from his mother’s family. In 1985, he inherited vineyards from his father’s family, which are located in Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
In addition to the vineyards inherited, Christian and Cathy have also acquired additional parcels for the domaine, bringing the total estate to approximately 50 hectares. Since their marriage, the estate has taken a more Burgundian approach to their wines. This is partially Cathy’s influence from her winemaking upbringing in Pommard, but it is also due to the fact that Christian studied in Burgundy.
Their goal is to preserve the delicacy of the fruit, so that the character of the terroir, the aromatics of the grapes, and the complexity of the wines are not masked by overripe fruit and excessive alcohol. They farm organically and biodynamically, depending on the vineyard. They handpick all of their grapes at harvest, and make their cuvées based on what the harvest gives them (blends change from year to year). They have quickly gained a reputation for wines that possess both balance and elegance.
