Domaine de la Butte, 2023 Update
One of the saddest moments of 2023 was, undoubtedly, learning of the passing of Jacky Blot, the man behind two of the Loire Valley’s most successful domaines, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups in Montlouis-sur-Loire and Domaine de la Butte in Bourgueil.
I last saw Jacky earlier this year, in February, with his son Jean-Philippe Blot by his side; together we tasted through all the current releases, as well as one or two older ones, from both domaines. I have already written up the wines tasted from Domaine de la Taille aux Loups in a detailed report including some reflections on when I first met Jacky, many years ago, and first tasted his wines. In this brief tasting report I turn my attention west, to Bourgueil, where the Blot family own a slice of vineyard on the limestone slopes, up above the gravel terraces for which the appellation is perhaps best known.
The Domaine
Domaine de la Butte is well known today, but does not have an illustrious history to match its current renown. Last century it was the property of Gilbert Griffon, who does not seem to have made any great waves during his tenure. He sold it to Paul Salmon, a wealthy entrepreneur from the world of retail, who at least commenced the conversion to organic viticulture.
After just a few years, though, he placed the property back on the market. This was 2002, and it coincided with the beginning of Jacky Blot’s search for a domaine in one of the region’s red appellations to complement his work in Montlouis-sur-Loire. A deal was quickly struck, and Jacky’s first vintage was that same year.
