Exploring Lirac (4) Château de Bouchassy
I tasted these wines with Marie-Cécile Degoul, who returned to the family domaine two years ago after working for 15 years for L’Oreal in Paris. Now she’s a vigneron. ‘It was a good change she says,’ an she has a husband and two children, living in the southern Rhône, a big step from the city.
This domaine started in the 1970s when Marie-Cécile’s great grandfather bought a vineyard. Now she’s the fourth generation with her brother, and her mother is still working with them. There are 26 hectares of vines all around the Château. 18 hectares are in the Lirac appellation, and 8 are counted as vin de France. The soils vary: galets roulés, limestone and clay.
They have just 1 hectare of white, but want to plant more. They are in the final year of organic conversion.
Château de Bouchassy Lirac Blanc Magnolia 2022
13.5% alcohol. Grenache, Clairette, Roussanne and Viognier. This is really bright with a wet stone mineral note and zippy citrus and green apple fruit. Vivid and fresh with good acidity and focus. Very lively and bright. 90/100
Château de Bouchassy Lirac Blanc Magnolia 2023
Bright, fresh and lively with some pear and white peach notes. There’s also a bit of citrus. Bright, textural, youthful and fresh. 91/100
Château de Bouchassy Lirac Rouge Quatuor 2020
14.5% alcohol. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Sweet cherries and plums on the nose with some spicy, herbal detail. The palate has a stony, savoury edge with sweet, slightly stewed fruit and some gravel and spice on the finish. 90/100
Château de Bouchassy Miroir de Bouchassy Lirac Rouge 2019
Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Brooding and grainy with sweet black cherry and blackberry fruit. Concentrated and fine with taut fruit and herbal notes, showing some detail. Youthful, gravelly and fine. 94/100
Château de Bouchassy Clin d’Oeil de Bouchassy Lirac Rouge 2021
14% alcohol. 60% Mourvèdre, 40% Grenache. So stony and supple. Fresh and tangy with tart red cherries and raspberries, showing lovely tension. Bright and expressive with lovely acidity and fine-grained structure. Nice firmness and a salty finish. 94/100
CHÂTEAU DE BOUCHASSY
3757 Chemin de la Vallu – Hameau Tras le Puy, 30150 Roquemaure
+33 (0)4 66 82 82 49
contact@chateaubouchassy.com
EXPLORING LIRAC
