Exploring Lirac (1) Château Boucarut
Château Boucarut is a new producer in Lirac. Saskia and Maurice Goetschy established the domaine in Roquemure in 2017. They were new to winegrowing so they had some assistance. The first vintage of Boucarut was in 2019, so the last one was their fourth vintage. They have 15 hectares of vines in Roquemure, and have planted 9 more, and have 1.5 hectares in Tavel. All the existing vines were planted in the 1960s and 1970s. Their approach is regenerative, and they are trying to grow other plants in the vineyard to cover the soils.
I met with Maurice to taste the wines, and I asked him why he chose Lirac. ‘I chose it because for the future it’s better than the left of river,’ he says. On the left bank of the Rhône, opposite Lirac, is Châteauneuf du Pape.’There is freshness on the right,’ he says. ‘There are 3000 hectares of woods, which is very important for lowering the temperature. It keeps the freshness in the soil.’ He also says that the prices of plots were still accessible. ‘I got wonderful terroir for reasonable price. I think Lirac is better than Châteauneuf du Pape.’
Château Boucarut Lirac Blanc D’Schlànga 2022
13% alcohol. Naturally made, biodynamically farmed by Saskia and Maurice Goetschy. Full yellow colour with some green hints, this is saline and detailed with beautiful, complex pear and apple fruit as well as some crystalline citrus. Such precision and detail here: this is distinctive but really fine and beautiful. Superb stuff. 95/100
Château Boucarut Lirac Pierres Vivantes 2020
14.5% alcohol. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault. Powerful, lively and intense with gravelly spicy peppery structure. Fresh and lively with red cherry and redcurrant. Such precision here with a long fresh finish. 95/100
Château Boucarut Lirac Pierres Vivantes 2021
14% alcohol. Organic and natural. Nice intensity here with a savoury, spicy, stony edge to the plush cherry and berry fruits. It has fruit but also savoury complexity, with appropriate tannins and a slightly drying finish. Stylish with lots of personality and a nice core of fruit. 94/100
CHÂTEAU BOUCARUT
Chemin du Coquillon, 30150 Roquemaure
06 79 79 35 75
saskia@boucarut.com
EXPLORING LIRAC
