Charles Bove / Donatien Bahuaud, Vouvray
| Country & Region | France, Loire Valley |
| Appellation(s) | Vouvray |
| Producer | Charles Bove Company |
| Founded | 19th century |
The wines of Charles Bove/Donatien Bahuaud began life in the 19th century in Montrichard, in the Loire Valley. Its base of operations was, and is, an enormous rock quarry, abandoned after it had been quarried for building the Loire Chateaux (Chenonceau is just minutes away). This old quarry is composed of over 9 miles of underground cellars on three levels, with an all but steady temperature year-round of 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity inside is ideal for making and storing wines, and these days the firm keeps an average of two million bottles of sparkling wine undergoing aging at any given time. Below, at the lower entrance to the cellars, stands guard a sculpture known among the workers as The Gatekeeper.
The Charles Bove portion of the company specializes in sparkling wines, buying grape must or juice direct from surrounding domains. This must is vinified, blended, and bottled at Bove. The intrinsic qualities of the different wines are optimized by blending them together in one single vat. Reserve stocks allow them to offset variable weather conditions. At the end of the bottling operation, during which the wine is topped up with liqueur de tirage, the bottles, capped with metal temporary caps, are stored in the chalk cellars. They are “laid” on “lathes”, that is to say stored horizontally, with each layer separated from the previous one by a thin wooden lathe. Over a period of about 4 months, a second fermentation occurs.
The Donatien Bahuaud portion of the company maintains an extensive portfolio of still wines. These are delicious, well-priced introductions to the fresh and elegant wines the Loire does so well.
The Wines
| Wine | Blend | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Bove Sparkling Wine | Based heavily on Chenin Blanc with a dollop of Chardonnay to add richness | Composed of a selection of juice from white-chalk soil vineyards in the Touraine appellation. Made according to traditional methods. Lies on lathes for more than 18 months during fermentation and maturation. Tech sheet here. |
| Charles Bove Saumur Sparkling Rosé | 70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Groulleau Noir and Groulleau Gris | A méthode traditionelle sparkler. Stainless steel fermentation. Disgorged after a relatively short 12 months to retain its fresh fruit intensity. A mouthful of rosé for a great price. Tech sheet here |
| Donatien Bahuaud Vouvray | Chenin Blanc | From Vouvray, where the Abbey of Marmoutiers promoted the farming of Chenin in the 3rd century. Vouvray and its sibling Montlouis across the river are Touraine’s two great white wine appellations. This is a traditional style of Vouvray, bottled with a touch of residual sugar, which allows its incisive fruit to age long and gracefully. Tech sheet here. |
| Donatien Bahuaud Touraine Sauvignon Blanc | Sauvignon Blanc | Born of Touraine's chalk soils. Raised in steel and bottled without fuss. Fresh, brisk, delicious fruit. Tech sheet here. |
| Donatien Bahuaud Secret des Vignes Cabernet Franc | Cabernet Franc | This is sourced from the Brissac zone of Anjou, a quintessentially central Loire Franc with ample fruit and fresh aromatics, at a price that will leave change in your pocket. Production averages 3,500 cases. Tech sheet here. |