Domaine de la Pierre Gravée

Vouvray | Loire Valley

Philippe Guyonnet wasn’t born into a winemaking family but instead caught the wine bug later in life, first with the rare wines of Burgundy — as is often the case. However, a few serendipitous encounters later he landed in the Loire Valley, where the pull and real possibility of creating great wines from ancient terroirs was too strong to ignore.

The historic Loire appellation of Vouvray has plenty of iconic figures who craft legendary bottles; but aside from wines produced by the very top names, Philippe felt there was a great deal of unrealized potential on these windswept, clay-rich, classic tuffeau soils. After befriending the late Jacky Blot of Domaine de la Taille aux Loups in Montlouis — a kindred spirit who was also inspired by the wines of Burgundy — and then following Jacky’s sage advice, Philippe found his dream vineyards in the charmingly named Vallée Coquette, just west of Vouvray.

Domaine de la Pierre Gravée is an ambitious new estate with a singular goal: to create grand Vouvray wines worthy of the weighty history of the name, Chenin Blanc with body and energy and layers of unrelenting, captivating flavor. Here the youngest vines are a half-century old and produce but a handful of fruit; wines age slowly in the finest of Burgundy-sourced oak barrels for 18 months or more, and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The “pierre gravée” or carved stone of this unique estate describes the classic Loire cellars of the region, soft limestone carved by hand that maintains a perfect temperature and humidity for extended aging. Indeed, this domaine and its limited, handcrafted wines represent a new, exciting chapter in the long history of Vouvray, one that just may be its finest yet.

FARMING & WINEMAKING

The estate totals some 30 acres of vineyard land in and around the Vallée Coquette, west of the village of Vouvray. Here vineyards sit up on a windy plateau and enjoy a southern exposition. A special holding includes the walled ‘Petit Mont’ vineyard, one of Vouvray’s few historic “clos” plots, a five-acre vineyard with varying expositions and very old vines.

Soils mix iron-rich clay and flint with subsoils of classic Loire tuffeau, a soft limestone. Vines are cared for according to organic principles; as of the 2024 harvest, the estate is certified organic.

Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates, and are pressed immediately and left to settle naturally in a temperature-controlled tank overnight. Juice is fermented on indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (approx. 15% to 20% new oak) and aged in barrel, depending on the wine, from one to two winters.

Very moderate doses of sulfites are added during the maturation process and before bottling; wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

SPARKLING WINES

Vouvray Brut Nature

A delicious sparkling wine that is more than a step above; it is a new quality category in Vouvray Brut! The 100% Chenin Blanc base wine here is world-class in its own right, aged for two years in barrel before its second fermentation in bottle. Aged in bottle for 16 months, for a non-dosage wine of serious energy and depth. Savory Williams pear, white peach, a touch of anise; mixed citrus and sea salt. A peerless aperitif with oysters on the half shell and a necessary companion with frito misto and lemon wedges.

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WHITE WINES

Vouvray Sec 'Inspirations'

The ‘Inspirations’ here are many, and taken in sum are what have moved winemaker Philippe Guyonnet to craft a great Loire white from Chenin Blanc. This wine evokes the vision of the late great Jacky Blot of Montlouis, who for decades pushed boundaries and crafted magic from the grand medium of Chenin Blanc. It also speaks of the peerless soils that Philippe tends, ancient vines that deliver each vintage but a handful of fruit. Yet it is in the glass where the real inspiration starts: aromas are endless, revealing a new expression with every minute and hour; flavors are profound, with pear and white peach and a host of citrus peel, herbs and a whisper of warm oak. Aged 18 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

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Vouvray Sec 'Momentum'

‘Momentum’ is a cymbal crash, a fanfare of color and light — a Chenin profound and pure and wrought in gold. Aged a total of 30 months, this wine requires a long evening and the best of cuisine, where you can watch its wonderful evolution over the course of hours! Full-bodied, aromatically rich and flavorfully exotic, with spice and citrus marmalade and cooked white fruit, and a finish to break all clocks. A wine for today (if decanted) and certainly a bottle for many, many tomorrows.

“This is one of the most precise and lively Vouvrays I encountered during my trip to the region, and it marks this producer out as one to watch closely.” — Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate

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Established: 2021
Winemaker: Philippe Guyonnet
Region: France • Loire Valley • Vouvray
Vineyard size: 30 acres

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Founded by Philippe Guyonnet, Domaine de la Pierre Gravée operates as a discreet but increasingly precise address in Vouvray … His approach emphasizes clarity, texture and site expression over fruit-forward character. The wines remain dry and structured, shaped by their flint soils and extended élevage. This is a producer that merits close attention in the years to come.

Yohan Castaing

The Wine Advocate