Domaine Boutinot, Sélection Parcellaire 'La Truffière', 2024, Cairanne (AOP)

'One-Liner'
A tiny-production Cairanne with real swagger – dark fruit, violet and black olive layered with pepper, liquorice and silky tannins.

Tasting Note
Deep ruby in the glass, with an expressive nose of blackberry and dark cherry layered with violet, black olive tapenade and cracked pepper. The palate is supple and fluid, with ripe red and black fruit carried by fine, polished tannins. Notes of liquorice and dark chocolate add depth, while the restrained extraction keeps the wine fresh and remarkably elegant. There is a savoury, earthy quality underneath the fruit that gives it plenty of Southern Rhône character without tipping into heaviness. Vibrant and persistent on the finish, with peppery fruit, olive and spice lingering behind.

Country: France
Region: Rhone
Sub-Region: Cairanne AOP
Grape(s): 70% Syrah, 30% Grenache Noir
ABV: 13.5%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
La Truffière was never originally intended to become its own wine. The single hillside parcel, whose name means ‘truffle orchard’, had been vinified in a 60-hectolitre foudre with the intention of contributing to Domaine Boutinot’s Les Six and Côte Sauvage blends. But when the 2024 was tasted during blending, the Syrah and Grenache from this particular parcel stood out so clearly that a small portion was held back and bottled separately. Fermentation was kept below 24°C and extraction deliberately gentle, closer to an infusion than a heavily worked red wine, before ageing continued in the same large foudre. Just 2,400 bottles were produced, making La Truffière a rare snapshot of one exceptional Cairanne parcel rather than a wine created to a pre-existing formula.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Herb-roast saddle of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes
- Vegetarian: Mushroom and Thyme Tart
- Vegan: Lentil and mushroom bourguignon with thyme and pearl onions