Pierre Gauthier at the entrance to his cellar (photo from www.beauneimports.com) |
Country of Origin: France
Location: Benais, Touraine
People: Pierre & Rodolphe (son) Gauthier, Owners & Winemakers
The Gauthier family has been crafting traditional wines from Bourgueil for five generations. Pierre Gauthier with his son Rodolphe are the present owners and winemakers for Domaine du Bel Air. Although the Gauthier family has long practiced farming methods that respect the terroir, it was Pierre and Rodolphe that pushed the estate to gain organic certification (2000).
Located in Touraine in the Loire Valley, the wines from the town of Bourgueil are made of Cabernet Franc. Domaine du Bel Air produces fairly deep, age-worthy Cabernet Francs from their 18 hectares located in Benais, a 200-hectare area just east of Bourgeuil. Their 18 hectares of vineyard average 30 years of age, some are as old as 80 years. They usually prune by hand and practice green harvesting. Thick rows of grass grows in between the guyot-trained vines.
The Gauthiers’ wine cellar is one of the tufa caves for which the region is known. The dark caves provide steady, low temperatures perfect for aging wine. The entrance is almost completely concealed by vines with the domaine’s grapes growing above.
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| Current Items from Domaine du Bel Air |
| Cat # |
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Pack-Size |
Net |
Reviews |
| 7052 |
Domaine du Bel Air 2011 Bourgueil AOC |
12-750 |
$160 |
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