Lame Delisle Boucard

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Lame Delisle Boucard 2023 Vieilles Vignes Bourgueil AOC

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Few domaines in the Loire Valley embody both continuity and resilience like Lamé-Delisle-Boucard. Founded in 1869 by Pierre Guyot, the estate has weathered phylloxera, two world wars, and dramatic shifts in the French wine trade, all while remaining firmly in family hands.

From Crisis to Independence
Pierre’s son-in-law, Jules Lamé, came from humble beginnings but seized the opportunity presented by the phylloxera crisis, becoming one of the first in the region to graft vines onto American rootstock. His perseverance set the course for the family’s future. The 20th century brought new trials: Jules spent four years on the front lines of the First World War, sustaining severe injuries, and his son Lucien was taken prisoner in Germany during the Second World War. In Lucien’s absence, his wife, Yvonne Delisle, managed the vineyards with the help of her in-laws, keeping the estate alive.

When Lucien returned in 1945, weakened by his captivity, he and Yvonne made a bold decision: rather than continue selling their wine in bulk, they would bottle the entire 1947 harvest under their own label. This progressive spirit extended to the estate’s new name, Lamé-Delisle, a tribute to both family lines. It was a radical move for the era, and the timing proved fortuitous—the consecutive great vintages of 1947, 1948, and 1949 provided a strong foundation for building a loyal clientele.

A New Era: Lamé-Delisle-Boucard
The estate entered a new chapter in 1965 when Lucien and Yvonne’s daughter, Maryvonne, married René Boucard, a young vigneron from nearby Benais. By 1969 the domaine carried its full name, Lamé-Delisle-Boucard, and in 1974 a new winery was constructed, enabling greater control over both vinification and élevage. The wines of the 1970s—including the remarkable 1976 vintage—solidified the estate’s reputation for structured, age-worthy Bourgueil.

Today, the fifth generation carries forward this legacy. Philippe Boucard, who studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux, joined the domaine in 1990 alongside his wife Patricia, who manages sales and administration. His sister Stéphanie followed in 1999 with her husband, Eric Degaugue, bringing both enological expertise and practical skills from his mechanical training. Together, the family continues to cultivate Cabernet Franc on Bourgueil’s gravelly soils, crafting wines that range from supple and approachable to profoundly structured and long-lived.

A Living Museum of Bourgueil
The Boucard family’s cellars are a treasure trove of Loire history. Beneath their estate lies an expansive network of tuffeau caves—cathedral-like tunnels lined with bottles spanning more than a century. Tasting here is less a flight of wines than a journey through time: vintages from 2005, 1989, 1976, 1947, even as far back as 1911, still reveal remarkable vitality and power. Each bottle is a testament to both terroir and tenacity, reflecting not only the family’s skill but also their unbroken commitment to preserving and advancing the tradition of Bourgueil.