Henri Chauvet En Attendant La Pluie 2023

Henri Chauvet arrived in the village of Boudes in spring 2021, purchasing 10.5 hectares of vines on the steep hillsides of Auvergne in central France. Born in 1987, Henri left a career in insurance and banking to pursue winemaking, earning his viticulture and oenology diploma through correspondence courses before seeking hands-on training with some of the most respected vignerons in the Rhône Valley.

His apprenticeships proved formative. Henri worked alongside Jérôme Bressy at Gourt de Mautens in Rasteau, then with the legendary Thierry Allemand in Cornas—a producer renowned for crafting some of the most sought-after Syrahs in France through meticulous vineyard work and minimal intervention in the cellar. These experiences shaped Henri's approach: respect for terroir, organic farming, spontaneous fermentation, and restraint with sulfur additions.

A car trip through Auvergne convinced Henri that this overlooked region held extraordinary potential. The volcanic soils around Boudes differ markedly from vineyards just kilometers north, featuring iron oxide-rich red clay, quartz, decomposed granite, and profoundly volcanic basalt with blue marl. This complexity of terroir across his parcels allows Henri to produce distinct cuvées that express specific soil types. His vineyards are planted to Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay on steep slopes that demand entirely manual work.

Henri began converting to organic farming immediately upon arrival and employs natural winemaking methods throughout his range—whole-bunch fermentation, indigenous yeasts, aging in stainless steel or older oak barrels, and bottling without fining or filtration. Sulfur additions vary by cuvée, with Contre-Nature receiving zero and others minimal amounts before bottling. His debut 2021 vintage produced ten different wines, each exploring what the varied terroirs of Boudes could yield. Production remains small, and demand has grown rapidly as word spreads about this serious young vigneron revitalizing Auvergne's volcanic vineyards.

Auvergne occupies the volcanic heart of central France, a rugged landscape shaped by ancient eruptions that left behind dramatic puys (volcanic domes), crater lakes, and mineral-rich soils unlike anywhere else in French wine country. The region lies roughly 400 kilometers south of Paris, centered around the city of Clermont-Ferrand. Viticulture here dates back to Roman times, though Auvergne remained largely unknown to international wine markets until a new generation of growers began attracting attention in recent years.

The Côtes d'Auvergne appellation, granted AOC status in 2011, stretches across 53 communes on volcanic hillsides between 350 and 500 meters elevation. The village of Boudes, south of Issoire, has earned particular recognition for expressive Gamay and Pinot Noir grown on its distinctive soils. Unlike the granite-dominated terroirs of nearby Beaujolais, Auvergne's vineyards sit on a patchwork of volcanic basalt, blue marl, iron oxide-rich red clay, decomposed granite, quartz, and limestone. This geological diversity allows producers to craft markedly different wines from parcels just meters apart.

The continental climate brings cold winters, warm summers, and significant diurnal temperature variation that preserves acidity in the grapes. Harvest typically occurs later than in warmer French regions, and the high-altitude vineyards on steep slopes require almost entirely manual labor. Gamay dominates red wine production, with Pinot Noir also permitted under the appellation. Chardonnay accounts for most white wine, though plantings remain limited.

A wave of young natural wine producers has revitalized Auvergne's reputation. These vignerons embrace organic and biodynamic farming, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal sulfur additions—methods well-suited to the region's pristine volcanic terroirs. Their wines showcase a distinctive minerality and freshness that reflects both the altitude and the ancient volcanic soils, positioning Auvergne as one of France's most exciting emerging wine regions.