Domaine Amirault's history goes back nearly 180 years. The same family has been cultivating these vines on the Clos des Quarterons in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil for six generations. Today it is Xavier Amirault's turn to manage the estate. He took over from his brother Thierry, who is 15 years his senior. The vineyard spans 32 hectares and is biodynamically cultivated (Demeter certification since 2010). The wines are raised in the Vau Renou cellars, a large tuffeau stone quarry that is several hundred metres long. In the cellar, vinifications are long and meticulous. The wines are raised for a minimum of 12 months in demi-muids or foudres. The wines are neither filtered nor clarified and are defined by their fruit and very fine grain tannins.

With Les Gravilices, Xavier Amirault has produced a solid, sappy, generous Cabernet Franc wine from deep gravel soil. After one to three hours in the carafe, the wine will open into notes of candied cherries and prunes, making it a natural accompaniment to an ambitious, strongly-flavoured meal.