Mikaël Boutin first worked as a mechanic until age 20 when he began work in the southern Rhône vineyards. He then studied viticulture at Carpentras before moving on to the organic Domaine Jean David at Séguret, which stimulated his urge to make wine. When his uncle retired in 2008, Mikaël worked two hectares he inherited from his parents, making his first wine in 2011. At the time he was also the “number two” in charge of the vineyards at Domaine de la Vieille Julienne at Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
He produces organic wines, with massale selection of the vines. Mikaël owns two hectares across eight plots on slope and plain stem. He manages to produce delicious wines in a small building barely larger than a two-car garage which represents the totality of his production facility.
Vivid purple. Deeply pitched cherry, dark berry preserve and licorice aromas pick up smoky mineral, olive and floral notes with air. Chewy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-drenched bitter cherry, blackberry, fruitcake and f...
Assertive dark berry, cherry and floral pastille scents are complemented by suggestions of succulent herbs and smoky minerals. Sappy and nicely concentrated, offering mineral-laced bitter cherry and black raspberry preserve flavors that turn sweeter with ...
The 2021s here are certainly strong wines in the vintage. The 2021 Saint Joseph is a healthy dense ruby/purple hue and offers textbook Saint Joseph aromas and flavors of black fruit (there's a hint of red fruit as well), graphite, ground pepper, and some ...
Looking first at the 2020 Cornas Les Chailles, which is the younger vine cuvée of the domaine, it sports a healthy purple hue to go with meaty, slightly reductive notes of ripe black and blue fruits, lavender, rose petal, and black pepper. It's medium to ...
Voge's 2020 Saint Joseph Les Cotes—from a parcel in Mauves—came across as slightly exotic in the blind-tasting lineup, with hints of violets, licorice and stone fruit. Maturing in older barriques, it's medium to full-bodied and supple on the palate, with ...
Lastly, the tiny production 2020 Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines on granite soil. It's a more primordial effort, offering layers of black and blue fruits, rose petals, candied violets, bloody meat, and bouquet garni. Uber-rich, ...