Gérard Boulay: Wines
The aim here is not to seek varietal character, instead preferring to pick appropriately ripe fruit that has a greater chance of saying something about the terroir. This philosophy must surely go a long way towards explaining why the wines are of such fine quality. Picking method varies according to plot and variety; all the Pinot Noir and the Sauvignon Blanc destined for the single-site cuvées are picked by hand, while the remaining Sauvignon Blanc, which goes into the entry-level Tradition, is harvested by machine.
The yields are between 30 and 40 hl/ha for the Pinot Noir, higher for the Sauvignon Blanc, and although it varies according to the plot the annual figure is typically between 50 and 60 hl/ha.
The fruit would once have been delivered to the rather cramped Boulay residence-come-winery in the centre of Chavignol, but today Gérard has relocated to a much more modern facility, on the road heading east out of the village. Even though this is still a relatively small winery, it still gives Gérard much more room to work in.
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