Considered one of the greatest dry white wines in France, the Clos de la Coulée de Serrant has its own AOC and is entirely owned by the Joly family. A remarkable expression of the land, this Chenin Blanc is produced from 7 hectares of vineyards aging 40 to 50 years-old. With steep slopes and southern exposure, the soil is composed of shale outcroppings (schist) interspersed with quartz. The site on which the vines are planted has remained under vine since 1130. Unparalleled in intensity and complexity, the energy of the property is bottled in this iconic and limited offering that will develop for years to come.
The 2021 vintage is the smallest volume they’ve ever produced. Frost hit badly and by late April about 60% of the crops were lost. The cold weather finally subsided and flowering happened in late June, with good weather conditions and not much disease pressure. A quiet, hot, and dry summer. The berries matured slowly and gained a bit more volume through early September, with the harvest starting on September 27.
The positive side of a late vintage is that the botrytis appears end of September with the morning fog of the Loire. The small harvest was finished within 10 days but in very beautiful conditions. Fermentation went smoothly up to January and the wines stayed on the fine lees until final racking, filtration, and bottling at the end of June. The wine is very balanced and very elegant.
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