Domaine Henri Chauvet - Vie Ordinaire 2024
Located in Boudes, south of Issoire, Henri Chauvet is one of the winemakers who are giving strong visibility back to Auvergne's wine region. Since his arrival in spring 2021, he has been working approximately 10.5 hectares of vines in an area marked by a particularly expressive geological diversity. The village of Boudes, known for its colorful hillsides and contrasting soils, benefits from an environment where red clays rich in iron oxide, quartz, marls, and volcanic components intermingle. This complexity of terroirs played a central role in Henri Chauvet's choice, who was looking for a vineyard capable of producing sincere, deep wines strongly linked to their origin. His experience with demanding winemakers, notably in the Rhône Valley and with Thierry Allemand in Cornas, nurtures a precise, low-intervention approach attentive to the natural balance of the grapes. The estate mainly cultivates Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, with a clear intention to let the soils speak rather than impose a technical signature. Vie Ordinaire 2024 fits within this vision, revealing an Auvergne expression of Pinot Noir that is fresh, volcanic, and intensely lively.
The Vie Ordinaire 2024 cuvée is made from Pinot Noir grown on a volcanic terroir, which gives it an identity very different from the more classic expressions of the variety in Burgundy or continental climates. The soils of Boudes, marked by basaltic influences, colored marls, and iron-rich clays, bring a unique aromatic depth and a discreet but persistent mineral sensation to the wine. Henri Chauvet favors gentle vinification, based more on infusion than extraction, to preserve the natural finesse of Pinot Noir. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, in a spirit of respect for the fruit and the balance of the vintage. Aging is done in old containers, for a variable duration depending on the lots and years, to support the texture without marking the wine with dominant oak. Bottling without fining or filtration, combined with a minimal dose of sulfur, allows the preservation of a direct, sensitive, and vibrant expression of the terroir. Vie Ordinaire 2024 thus presents itself as a natural red with character, both delicate in structure and deep in its aromatic imprint.
On tasting, Domaine Henri Chauvet Vie Ordinaire 2024 reveals a Pinot Noir with a fine, juicy, and earthy profile, carried by aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, and delicate black fruits. The volcanic terroir adds a darker and deeper dimension, with nuances of warm stone, sweet spices, light smoke, and dried flowers. On the palate, the wine remains supple and slender, with fine tannins, precise acidity, and a texture that favors fluidity rather than power. The texture is silky, almost airy, but supported by a mineral depth that gives relief to the whole. The finish is fresh, salivating, and slightly spicy, with a persistence that recalls the volcanic origin of the cuvée. This Pinot Noir will pair very well with roasted poultry, pork tenderloin, country terrine, sautéed mushrooms, root vegetable risotto, or delicately spiced bistro cuisine. It can be enjoyed young, slightly chilled, while retaining enough balance to evolve for a few years in the cellar.
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
