Domaine des Ouches, 2018 Update
Located near the upper slopes of the Bourgueil vineyard, above Château de Minière. A long established estate run by the Gambier family for several generations, the focus here is on the top end of the appellation, the portfolio of wines showcasing a number of single-vineyard terroirs. Gravelly soils which otherwise dominate the appellation here make an appearance only at the entry level. The house style is very much one of restraint, in terms of texture certainly, but not necessarily in terms of structure. This fact becomes increasingly evident as you taste towards the top of the range, rather than at the bottom.
The Wines
The entry-level cuvées are the Vin 20 wines, which come in rosé and red versions. I have already posted a tasting note for the 2017 rosé in my Loire 2017 report, so I comment here solely on the red 2016 Bourgueil Vin 20, a young-vine cuvée which shows pretty fruit and an appealing vin de soif style. In the same vintage I find the 2016 Bourgueil Igoranda, which is the backbone of the domaine’s output, to be worth the step up, the texture here more convincing, the structure more velvety.
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