Bonjour de la terre du Mistral,
Today’s introduction takes us to sleepy medieval Vacqueyras, town of 100 inhabitants in France’s southern Rhone valley. Nestled in between the towering Dentelles de Montmirail mountains to the east and the expansive Plan de Dieu plateau to its west, the town is often celebrated for its value relative to Chateauneuf du Pape, but rarely for its sheer greatness on its own terms. In considering native son Eric Bouletin and his remarkable story and feeling, I can confidently declare that he is as pure and inspiring a reflection of his land as anyone that I have ever met. Not only are his wines stand alone stars for his village, I would hasten to say that they are of the most remarkable wines being produced anywhere in the southern Rhone valley.
Eric tells me that he has always been considered a somewhat strange bird. He was born the day that man landed on the moon; “moon boy” was a childhood nickname, both because of his birthdate, his gangly frame, and his very active imagination. He is part of a grape growing family that has been settled in the Vacqueyras area for over four hundred years. Ancestors had established a home estate in the 18th century at a place they named Roucas Toumba, Provencale for fallen rocks; Bouletin lives in this same home today. At the age of 15, his father passed away. Less than a year later, he stopped going to school in order to help his mother care for the property. It has almost been 30 years for this 43 year old, 30 harvests that have taught and shaped him. His hands look as though they could tell the story of a 70 year old….
Eric’s heavy manual workload does not preclude more delicate activities; he is also a terribly gifted pen and ink artist. He says that he would always just doodle in his down time, and over time he got really good at it. All of his labels are from his own drawings. When I visited, I recognized the bicycle that he used to create the Pichot Roucas label. It was leaning on the large tree in front of his house, springtime flowers in full bloom pictured above. I found out later that the bicycle was a gift from his father, for his 12th birthday. He has meticulously cared for it and uses it regularly to this day.
During our visit together, we visited the different parcels that he farms. Pictured above is a very special old vine parcel of Grenache called the Restanques de Cabassole. This single terrace of 80-120 year old Grenache has belonged to his family since the mid 18th century. The vines are chest high, like small gnarly trees; the picture doesn’t do justice to scale. Co-planted among fruit and olive trees, they produce 3-4 bunches per plant per year, meager yields of exceptionally good quality. Bouletin said that the grapes he pulled from this vineyard in 2010 were the most beautiful fruit that he has ever seen…….the completed blend is indeed stunningly captivating. Standing on the terrace, taking in the view, it definitely felt like a kind of oasis, a special place to say the very least…..
Eric impressed me deeply as a humble dude who gives every ounce of his life’s passion to his land and the potential beauty of its wines. He struck me as an ever vigilant and devoted gardener, father, poet, artist, comedian, and bittersweet dreamer all at once. You know how sometimes people just leave you with a sense of inspiring humanity, people who simply strike you as being remarkably sensitive and uplifting individuals? Both my wife and I drove away from our brief meeting with that very sense, that Eric is a very special soul.
We are not alone in that feeling. Bouletin’s wines are favorites in white tablecloth French gastronomy, savvy bistro culture and beyond. All of his wines, in particular the Restanques bottling, have had nothing but increasingly glowing reviews among the French and American press. Among his peers, if they know of his wines, they universally recognize his special passion and talent. It’s nice to see good things coming to good people…..
Today’s introduction takes us to sleepy medieval Vacqueyras, town of 100 inhabitants in France’s southern Rhone valley. Nestled in between the towering Dentelles de Montmirail mountains to the east and the expansive Plan de Dieu plateau to its west, the town is often celebrated for its value relative to Chateauneuf du Pape, but rarely for its sheer greatness on its own terms. In considering native son Eric Bouletin and his remarkable story and feeling, I can confidently declare that he is as pure and inspiring a reflection of his land as anyone that I have ever met. Not only are his wines stand alone stars for his village, I would hasten to say that they are of the most remarkable wines being produced anywhere in the southern Rhone valley.
Eric tells me that he has always been considered a somewhat strange bird. He was born the day that man landed on the moon; “moon boy” was a childhood nickname, both because of his birthdate, his gangly frame, and his very active imagination. He is part of a grape growing family that has been settled in the Vacqueyras area for over four hundred years. Ancestors had established a home estate in the 18th century at a place they named Roucas Toumba, Provencale for fallen rocks; Bouletin lives in this same home today. At the age of 15, his father passed away. Less than a year later, he stopped going to school in order to help his mother care for the property. It has almost been 30 years for this 43 year old, 30 harvests that have taught and shaped him. His hands look as though they could tell the story of a 70 year old….
Eric’s heavy manual workload does not preclude more delicate activities; he is also a terribly gifted pen and ink artist. He says that he would always just doodle in his down time, and over time he got really good at it. All of his labels are from his own drawings. When I visited, I recognized the bicycle that he used to create the Pichot Roucas label. It was leaning on the large tree in front of his house, springtime flowers in full bloom pictured above. I found out later that the bicycle was a gift from his father, for his 12th birthday. He has meticulously cared for it and uses it regularly to this day.
During our visit together, we visited the different parcels that he farms. Pictured above is a very special old vine parcel of Grenache called the Restanques de Cabassole. This single terrace of 80-120 year old Grenache has belonged to his family since the mid 18th century. The vines are chest high, like small gnarly trees; the picture doesn’t do justice to scale. Co-planted among fruit and olive trees, they produce 3-4 bunches per plant per year, meager yields of exceptionally good quality. Bouletin said that the grapes he pulled from this vineyard in 2010 were the most beautiful fruit that he has ever seen…….the completed blend is indeed stunningly captivating. Standing on the terrace, taking in the view, it definitely felt like a kind of oasis, a special place to say the very least…..
Eric impressed me deeply as a humble dude who gives every ounce of his life’s passion to his land and the potential beauty of its wines. He struck me as an ever vigilant and devoted gardener, father, poet, artist, comedian, and bittersweet dreamer all at once. You know how sometimes people just leave you with a sense of inspiring humanity, people who simply strike you as being remarkably sensitive and uplifting individuals? Both my wife and I drove away from our brief meeting with that very sense, that Eric is a very special soul.
We are not alone in that feeling. Bouletin’s wines are favorites in white tablecloth French gastronomy, savvy bistro culture and beyond. All of his wines, in particular the Restanques bottling, have had nothing but increasingly glowing reviews among the French and American press. Among his peers, if they know of his wines, they universally recognize his special passion and talent. It’s nice to see good things coming to good people…..
AND SO THE WINES:
2012 Pichot Roucas Vin de Pays de Mediterranee rose $12
From declassified Vacqueyras, Bouletin makes this more or less for his own personal house rose, to drink as a refresher during harvest cassecroute breaks….he let me have a few cases for shits and giggles. Good perfume, moderately rich with decent cut. Glug glug 🙂
From declassified Vacqueyras, Bouletin makes this more or less for his own personal house rose, to drink as a refresher during harvest cassecroute breaks….he let me have a few cases for shits and giggles. Good perfume, moderately rich with decent cut. Glug glug 🙂
2012 Pichot Roucas Vin de Pays de Mediterranee rouge $12
This too is principally declassified Vacqueyras comprised of equal parts Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. A plump, rich, harmonious rhonie, with silly good quality/price. As good of an everyday bistro Rhone red as one could possibly ask for…….
2011 Roucas Toumba Vacqueyras la Grande Terre $25
This is the inaugural bottling of what Bouletin considers a more approachable earlier maturing Vacqueyras, his villages to the Restanques’ 1er cru character. A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre. It is wonderfully elegant and savory….the varietal purity and friendliness of the ’11 vintage is on full display. For its complexity and harmony, it is a delight.
2010 Roucas Toumba Vacqueyras les Restanques de Cabassole $32
“”This sensational Vacqueyras is one of the best wines of this powerful, strong vintage for this still under-the-radar appellation for high quality red wines. A blend of 60% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 3% white varietals, the 2010 was aged in 600-liter demi-muids (the Grenache and Mourvedre) and smaller barrels for the Syrah. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by notes of licorice, graphite, blackberries, cassis liqueur, and subtle smoke, scorched earth and forest floor. Impressive aromatics and flavors are found in this viscous, seriously endowed 2010, suggesting it can be drunk now and over the next decade.” –92 points Robert Parker
“Bright red. Exotically perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, potpourri and incense. Mineral-driven strawberry and black raspberry flavors stain the palate, with mounting floral pastille and spice qualities. Impressively pure wine with excellent finishing sweetness, lift and length.” –92 points Josh Raynolds for the 2006, just as a point of reference……
I love to show Eric’s wines; so far, his special something has not been lost on anyone yet…….
All wines are in stock.
As always with any questions or interests: rob@downtoearthwines.net
CHEERS TO ERIC, TO ALL THAT YOU ARE!!!
As always with any questions or interests: rob@downtoearthwines.net
CHEERS TO ERIC, TO ALL THAT YOU ARE!!!
