Henri Chauvet

History of Domaine Henri Chauvet

Henri Chauvet did not come from a family of winegrowers. It was a deep passion for wine and nature that led him to leave a comfortable job in the banking sector to embark on a complete career change. Driven by a desire to return to the land and convinced of the potential of the Auvergne volcanic terroirs, he completed his BTS viti-oeno training through evening classes and correspondence courses, while also training in the field alongside the best. His time with Thierry Allemand in Cornas was formative: there he learned absolute rigour, respect for terroir and the philosophy of still and living wines that would come to define his own estate.

In 2021, he took the plunge and acquired Domaine Sauvat in Boudes, south of Issoire, in the Puy-de-Dôme. Boudes is one of the five historic crus of the Côtes d'Auvergne appellation, a generally little-known region whose volcanic terroirs are capable of producing some of the most expressive and singular Gamays, Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in France.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Henri Chauvet

The vineyard of Domaine Henri Chauvet extends over more than ten hectares in Boudes and its surroundings, on terroirs of great geological diversity. The soils are divided between two main types: the bards, a local term for a red clay rich in iron oxide, and the more deeply volcanic and basaltic soils. This geological duality gives the wines a distinctive minerality, both warm (iron oxide, clay) and fresh (volcanic basalt). Certain plots, such as Baconnet and Bavotte, are located on hillsides so steep that mechanisation is impossible or very difficult: Henri has horses work the land for ploughing, thus preserving the structure and life of the soils.

The grape varieties follow the classic trilogy of the Auvergne vineyard: Gamay (60% of the vineyard), Pinot Noir (30%) and Chardonnay (10%). Gamay, the king grape of Boudes on volcanic terroir, produces dense, powerful and spicy wines. Pinot Noir, on clay-limestone soils, expresses a finesse and elegance comparable to the great Burgundian Pinots. The late-harvest Chardonnay, on clay and basalt, yields complex and mineral whites. The recent plantings of other grape varieties, including a late-harvest Chardonnay and potentially other varieties, will allow Henri to broaden his range of expression in the years to come. The entire vineyard has been managed using organic farming since the very first day of the estate's establishment.

Winemaking at Domaine Henri Chauvet

Henri Chauvet's winemaking philosophy is that of a winegrower who, although part of the natural wine world, refuses to be confined to a dogmatic box. He claims total freedom in his cellar, in the service of his terroirs and his style. The common denominator across all his cuvées remains nonetheless clear: 100% indigenous yeasts, no filtration, no fining, no corrective intervention. For the 2021 whites, a minimal dose of sulphur (2 g/l) was used at vatting as a precaution during the first vintage; since 2022, zero added sulphur across all cuvées.

Aging takes place in tanks and oak barrels depending on the cuvées and the desired expressions, with varying durations according to the vintages. The maceration of the reds is carried out with whole clusters or partially destemmed grapes depending on the plots. Henri Chauvet places paramount importance on work in the vineyard: it is there, on these steep and volcanic hillsides, that the quality of his wines is built. Winemaking is merely a delicate accompaniment to what the vine has expressed.

The cuvées of Domaine Henri Chauvet

Vie Ordinaire (Vin de France): The estate's flagship red cuvée, made from a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir on the basalt and bards (red clay with iron oxide) terroirs of Boudes. Vinified with indigenous yeasts, without added sulphur (since 2022), without filtration or fining. An expressive nose of red and black fruits (raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant) with notes of spices and volcanic earth. A straight and mineral palate, with a freshness and depth reminiscent of the great wines of Thierry Allemand in Cornas, in a lighter register. The estate's easy-drinking, immediately pleasurable wine, produced in greater quantities than the single-plot cuvées. Its name, at once humble and ironic, contrasts with the exceptional quality of the wine.

Baconnet (Côtes d'Auvergne Boudes): A single-plot red cuvée from the Baconnet plot, one of the steepest-sloped vines on the estate, partly worked by horse, on basaltic and clay soils. Gamay or Pinot Noir depending on the vintage, or a blend of both. A red wine of exceptional concentration and minerality, with aromas of deep dark fruits, spices and volcanic smoke, a full and structured palate. One of the most intense and sought-after expressions of the estate.

Bavotte (Côtes d'Auvergne Boudes): A single-plot red cuvée from the Bavotte plot, also on a steep slope and worked by horse on terroirs of bards (red clay with iron oxide) and basalt. Gamay on these soils rich in iron oxide, expressing a dense and warm texture, aromas of ripe fruits, spices and a distinctive ferrous minerality. A wine for ageing, produced in micro-quantities on this particularly difficult-to-access plot.

Chardonnay (Vin de France): A white cuvée made from Chardonnay, and in particular from late-harvest Chardonnay, on the volcanic and clay terroirs of the estate. Vinified with indigenous yeasts, without sulphur, without filtration. A white wine of remarkable minerality and complexity for this grape variety in Auvergne: aromas of white-fleshed fruits, flowers, chalk and smoky volcanic notes. A taut and saline palate, with a long and persistent finish. An Auvergne Chardonnay of great singularity, expressing the full originality of the Boudes terroirs.

Pinot Noir (Côtes d'Auvergne Boudes): A red cuvée made from Pinot Noir planted on clay-limestone soils, expressing the finesse and elegance characteristic of this grape variety in an Auvergne volcanic context. A red wine of remarkable delicacy and precision, with aromas of cherry, violet and spices, silky tannins and a beautiful mineral tension. Henri Chauvet demonstrates here that the Pinot Noir of Boudes can reach a level of quality comparable to the great wines of Burgundy.