Renaud and Saki Boyer

INNER GPS
Life would be colourless and meaningless if Renaud Boyer could not do what he wanted: follow his passion and listen to his inner GPS. Enthusiasm gave him courage, and dreams came true. If he has learned anything, it is that you rarely get results quickly. Following your passion does not just happen. It requires hard work. For Renaud, he must be 100% focused.
Despite his father's initial doubts about the feasibility of making a living from natural wine, Renaud's determination and resilience shone through. He chose to learn special skills and rise above scepticism, a truly inspiring feat. As long as he can follow his heart, Renaud feels good. He always strives to grow and improve but never loses the joy in his work. When Renaud sets his sails for something, he excludes everything else and goes all the way, a testament to his unwavering commitment and a source of inspiration for all.

NO-SAYERS
He has never listened to naysayers because there are plenty of them.
Renaud has no intention of adapting his wines to everyone's expectations, not even his father's. His focus remains on the vineyards and grapes. The path he has chosen for his wines is natural. An old wine press, barrels, and recent amphorae confirm his dedication to making authentic wines. These unique wines leave no one indifferent and stand in stark contrast to the big names that often adorn themselves with noble allure. Renaud's unwavering commitment to his craft, a commitment that runs deep and is unwavering, is a testament to his need for peace and space to make his dreams come true.

OUR FIRST VISIT IN 2009
Trained as an engineer, Renaud initially had no intention of making wine. However, fate had other plans when his uncle Thierry Guyot asked to take over the organic vineyard in Saint-Romain, where his journey as a winemaker began. Influenced by natural wine lovers like Patrick Meyer, Bruno Schueller, and Philippe Jambon, he significantly changed his winemaking process. In 2009, we paid Renaud our first visit, and a year later, in 2010, we fell utterly in love with his wine. Since then, many memorable moments have crossed our path and happened in the Boyer House. His Japanese wife Saki came into his life, and their son Nino was born in 2023. There is a plan for a new cellar, but the tranquillity will always remain.

ENERGY
Boyer's production primarily consists of chardonnay, which he vinifies directly. He carries out a pressing of 5-6 hours at low pressure on a pneumatic press. Pinot Noir has been vinified entirely as a whole bunch since 2008. Macerations generally last from ten days to three weeks or a month, with a gentle pigeage every other day. 'Pigeage' is the process of punching down the cap of grape skins and seeds that form during fermentation to ensure maximum extraction of flavour and colour. Elevage for almost all white and red wines is done in oak barrels, some new, depending on the year. All wines have been unsulphured since about 2008. Red wines have been unfiltered since 2008, while white wines have been unfiltered since 2011. This meticulous and unique process, unique to Renaud, is a testament to his dedication to creating exceptional wines and is sure to intrigue wine enthusiasts.

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET
In all those years of winemaking, Renaud has found it ultimately better not to sulphur and not to filter. He noticed that if he did not filter, the wine matured better. The wine has lees left, so the ageing process is improved. Filtering tires the wine enormously. Energy is one of his criteria for the quality of his wine. Some winemakers make 'natural' wines that do not contain energy. A few winemakers make unsulphured, unfiltered Puligny-Montrachet like Renaud, which does not receive approval for the appellation because the wine does not fit into the judges' box. Renaud's belief in the energy of his wine sets him apart from other winemakers.

TRIBUTE
In Burgundy, Renaud Boyer is currently seen as one of the most extraordinary talents in making natural wine. If he cannot claim the Grand Cru terroirs, the highest classification of vineyards in Burgundy, that make the wine world fantasize, then he has, like no other, the unique talent to let his beautiful plots in Saint-Romain, Beaune and Puligny-Montrachet shine. This 'unique talent' refers to his ability to bring out the best in his vineyards, creating wines of exceptional purity and character. In terms of purity, his stunning wines are mentioned in the same breath as illustrious names such as Pierre Overnoy and Kenjiro Kagami. This not only reflects the worldwide awe for this fantastic winemaker but also does justice to the visionary character of Renaud Boyer, leaving the audience impressed by his achievements.

How fitting can a tribute be?