Our Estate
Diversity is the beauty of the southern Rhône; its vast river has carved a complex landscape of varied terroir - some renowned - others, such as Cairanne, more recently celebrated. In late 2009, we found exceptional hillside vineyards here - a discovery pivotal in our decision to establish Domaine Boutinot in Cairanne and the ideal base to make wine of the Côtes du Rhône Villages, Séguret and Côtes du Rhône. Years later, in 2016, Cairanne was granted Cru appellation status in recognition of the remarkable quality of its vineyards and wines.
Domaine Boutinot’s eight Cairanne vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône varieties - old vine Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre – and the more traditional Carignan Noir. Most vines were planted 50 years ago, but some date back to 1957. All are classified as ‘cru’ Cairanne and cover the appellation’s three main soil types - ‘argilo-calciare’ (limestone and clay), free draining ‘saffre’ (sandy subsoils) and the stony alluvial soils of the valley floor, the site of two of our plots. Our other six plots stretch up the slopes of La Montée de Ventabren (the highest point in Cairanne) and benefit from full sun and drying, cleansing winds, such as the infamous Mistral, which help to manage the vines with minimal intervention.
Our Plots
All plots are tended to level 3 of Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE), a certification that recognises a high level of commitment to protect and enrich the vineyards.
Within the winery, we favour traditional ways – open top fermentation, pigeage-à- pied, slow cuvaison and maturation in oak to suit the whims of what the weather gods have given us within that yearly cycle.
La Ruche
"The Beehive"
Clay | Limestone
Grenache Noir 1971 | Syrah 1979 | Cinsault 2015 | Counoise 2018
Aptly named, La Ruche comprises four small individual plots surrounding the busy winery and house.
The plot is deeply rich in limestone, which helps absorbs prized water in the heat of the day and micro-doses it out to the vine when it’s needed. A stratum of clay with its phosphorous for forming the buds, and nitrogen and potassium, to help produce starches and sugars in the old vines.
Blended with Mourvèdre and Carignan from the other plots, La Ruche is the inspiration for Les Six.
La Truffière
"The Truffle Orchard"
Calcaire | Limestone
Syrah 1979 | 2011
With a southerly aspect, above the winery, La Tuffière plot is predominantly limestone, some would say the best terroir for vine growing.
Old vines thrive on a scape that produces black truffles. Woodland above ground and blue-grey limestone below enriches this beautiful plot. Humidity, a friend to autumn truffle harvesting but not always to vineyard tending, is minimised by the purifying Mistral.
A good dollop of old-vine Syrah is blended to make the flagship Les Deux Barriques.
Font Crozes
"The Hollows"
Saffre Calcaire | Sand Limestone
Mourvèdre 2011
Crumbly sandstone, layered with limestone in a gently undulating landscape, this plot is 100% Mourvèdre, a heat-loving, dark-skinned grape varietal that gives backbone to blends.
Here, we see marine deposits from the Miocene Sea, which formed the corridor of the Rhone valley that we have today, melded in with limestone.
Ruggedly exposed on east-facing windy slopes, this plot inspired and contributes to La Côte Sauvage.
Saint Andéol
"Saint Andéol"
Saffre Calcaire | Sand Marl Limestone
Grenache Noir 1957 | 2014
Carignan Noir | 2012
Following the mountain contours down from La Pauline towards Cairanne is Saint Andéol, the oldest and prettiest plot.
Compressed limestone and free-draining sandy marl yield fantastic Grenache Noir, most of which was planted in 1957.
Glorious berries come into the winery each year from this plot. A south-west aspect and a protective hedge of ancient trees, gives this plot the luxury of ripening at its own pace.
Albeit the Carignan Noir is relatively young, the grapes help give a spicy and robust backbone to all the wines.
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La Pauline
"The Humble One"
Galets roules calcaires | Argile sub-soil
Clay sub-soil | Lime pebble stones
Grenache Noir 1969 | 2016
La Pauline is the reason we made our home in Cairanne.
A broadly terraced vineyard situated at the top of La Montée de Ventabren creates a vinous pavement of large heat-retaining pebbles, galets-roulés, on neothilic clay.
Such circumstances help the gnarly old bush vine Grenache Noir continue to flourish for decades and decades.
Given the outstanding terroir, we work to save individual vines, rather than uproot the row.
La Cote Sauvage and Les Deux Barriques benefit from what’s grown here.
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Les Garrigues
Ouest et Nord
Calcaire Galets Roules | Lime Pudding Stones
Carignan Noir 1962 | Grenache Noir 2021
Just south of Cairanne village on the flat, here a windswept alluvial plane is one of the earliest ripening plots.
Les Garrigues Ouest; an exceptionally sunny south facing plot planted in 1962 with Carignan Noir.
Due north, and sharing similar stony soils is Les Garrigues Nord, the most recently acquired plot which was planted with Grenache Noir in 2021.
These plots are the first to come into the winery each vintage, assessed and apportioned to whichever cuvée aligns to the resulting flavour profile, post fermentation and cuvaisson.
Les Six Terraces
"The Six Terraces"
Calcaire | Limestone
Grenache Noir 1969 | 2016
Slightly north of La Pauline is Les Six Terrasses, a modest cascade of low-yielding Grenache Noir.
Higher in altitude than other plots, and with a south-west aspect, the growing season here is longer which yields grapes with vibrant colour, concentrated sweetness and a fine natural acidity.
