ABOUT: Nicolas Joly is easily the most recognized promoter of biodynamic methods in wine, and the wine he makes is absolutely a cut above. He’s been making white wines from Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley at his place in Savennieres since the late 1970’s. Due to minimal human intervention in the winery, the wines frame each vintage with fascinating detail. He truly lets things run wild, there is no temperature control and fermentation with natural yeasts can take months. Wines are aged for less than a year in tank or barrel with only a few rackings. Chenin Blanc handles this with grace and raucous character. It’s known to be fussy in the vineyard but rugged in the winery, and the results are never what you expect. Nicolas Joly wines are always a delightful surprise, not for everyone but definitely for us.
Click here to read about Joly at drvino.com Click here to read about Joly at wineterriors.com Click here to read about Joly at wintegrated acidityineanorak.com Click here to read about Joly at pleasethepalate.com Click here to watch Joly and Gary chat it up TASTE: This is 100% Chenin Blanc from the glorious commune Savennieres in the Loire Valley. Roche aux Moines is a 22 hectare sub-appellation next door to Coulee de Serrant within the Savennieres AOC. Inside that, is a single vineyard mid-slope dominated by schist called Clos de la Bergerie. Everybody good? This is a terrific example of Chenin Blanc, with its soaring, , heady tree fruit aromas and flavors, pineapple, dried apricot, green tea and all matters of zippiness andsaltiness. The Clos de la Bergerie and Coulee de Serrant wines benefit from ageing and this 2012 is going to continue to develop into the 2030’s. We were lucky to get our hands on the last 6 bottles and we’re not drinking them, we want you to have them. PAIR: Fried rice cakes, Banh Mi Chay, spicy fried cauliflower, grilled Mexican corn, goat cheese and arugula over penne, and lemon dill cream sauce.
