Winegrowers’ Portraits Saint-Émilion
Château Petit Val
a total commitment
Contiguous estate of 6.5 hectares, Château Petit Val is situated
in the North of the village
of Saint-Émilion. Its name
comes from the topography
of the site.
In the 70s, the configuration and the sandy-gravelly lands, located north of the mound of Cadet, of this small valley—Petit Val as listed in the land register—interested Denis Boutet's father who was then manager of the chateaus Canon La Gaffelière and La Tour Figeac.
In 1990, Denis, trained in sales of agronomic supplies, takes up the reins of the family estate. Thanks to his work, his experience, advice of friends and professionals, he completely commits himself in the enhancement of his Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
He soon invests in a more modern, more adapted production tool, while remaining classic in the crafting of his wine …
“I apply myself, with continuous work, to produce a Grand Cru recognized as serious, producing 40,000 bottles”, Denis Boutet explains.
From 2012, he decides to modify the planted grape varieties as he is allowed by the specifications of the appellation since 2008, by introducing 40 acres of Petit Verdot instead of Cabernet Sauvignon.
“On our sandy-gravelly soils, Cabernet Sauvignon has never given satisfactory maturities. I thus decided to try Petit Verdot … Some warned me: if the first year was good, the bet would be won. The attempt was conclusive and now the blend of the great wine contains 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot”, he indicates. “The latter provides an additional fruitiness and colour to the wine, but is not matured in barrels considering the aromatic interest that it brings.”Château Petit Val remains traditional in its crafting, with cold macerations, short fermentation to protect the potential of the soil and provide delicacy, pumping-over, no treading. The maturation of some batches is done in barrels renewed by third every year with two coopers only (Remond and Radoux), to get roundness and sweetness.
“I try to develop sound and honest wines. I make them as I like them: with dominant fruitiness, melted woodiness, length in the palate, pleasant in their youth while having ageing potential. I work and communicate with the company Vin et Santé which realizes fine analysis of the residue in my wines. I am confident when I have to annotate the percentage of residue on the labels”, Denis Boutet resumes.
The wines are presented every year en Primeurs so that customers can judge the quality and the personality of the vintage. But Denis exports himself 70% of his bottled wines in Belgium, England, Germany and Switzerland. A small part heads for Asia via a merchant and 30% are sold in France and to the visitors who stop at the estate.
“My main project is to settle the renown of my wines, to continue to work the Grand Cru quality as appropriate, i.e. by respecting the specifications of course, by crafting my wines myself, by continuing manual harvest and bottling at the estate. It is essential to be involved, to sign one's bottles, to perpetuate the traditions but without wearing blinders. In a company of our size, it demands an important vigilance and open-mindedness to anticipate the next days and satisfy our customers with the quality and traceability of our wines”, Denis Boutet concludes.
Text and photos Florence Varaine
Château Petit Val
33330 Saint-Émilion - France
Tél.: +33 (0) 5 57 24 70 86
Fax : +33 (0) 5 57 24 68 30
