Fredric Bourillon is young and energetic. Not content to be a great wine maker, he is also a great promoter, always successfully banding together young Vouvray growers for participation in Tasting and trade fairs throughout Europe.
The Bourillon family has been making wine at Rochecorbon for many generations. Documents show the estate was founded in 1875, but it was in the 1930's that Frederic's great grandfather, Gaston, started to organize the estate as it is today. Recently Frederic has been energetically consolidating the vineyard holdings still further.
Most of them are on the plateau above Rochecorbon, near the Lanterne, a beacon tower that gave warning of river born invaders in the middle ages.
A new vinification plant has just been built, outside the medieval underground cellars. Brand new stainless steel vats permit fermentation in ideal conditions. Ageing in the tortuous old cellars at a constant temperature allows the oldest wines to show their full potential, even after 50 years or more. A recently tasted 1921 was still young with wonderful flavours of honey and flowers, mature Chenin Blanc at perfection.
Above all the Bourillon Dorleans wines display the passion that Frederic devotes to their product. A moelleux will only be produced when conditions are perfect. The 1985 was very fine and both 1989 and 1990 quite exceptional. These are surely wines of world class status, among the best the Loire can produce; wines for future generations, lasting 75 years and more.
