Grolleau IGP 2016 1500ml

Grolleau is an autochthonous Loire grape variety that is mostly used in residually sweet Rosé d'Anjou. The variety was hardly ever vinified as a pure variety before Claude and Nelly, the founders of Domaine Clau de Nell, did so and showed that it can produce a wine of great character that is as pristine as it is elegant and worthy of ageing. The vines of this Grolleau are between 60 and 90 years old, but more have been planted in recent years. They stand in loamy silty soil on sandstone as well as in red flint on tuffeau .

The yield is just 25 hl/ha. The grapes were harvested by hand in 12-kilo crates. They were destemmed and fermented over 30 days with only infrequent pumping over. Aging then took place for 30 % of the wine over twelve months on the fine lees in Burgundian Pièces from five to seven years, for another 70 % in large barrels. The cuvée then matured again for half a year in stainless steel.

intense garnet red with purple reflections

The 2016 Grolleau from Clau de Nell inspires from the first moment with its unique character. This wine is so spicy, so earthy, even earthy, and yet so elegant on the nose. There is forest floor and stone, underbrush and a little horse sweat, lots of blackcurrant and elderberry, some blackberry, plum and cherry. Everything seems together and interwoven like a basket of dark fruits on a bed of earth after a light summer rain.

On the palate, the 2016 Grolleau continues its appearance, which has become so typical and rare for the variety. Nowhere else can you find this old red Loire variety with such precision and nobility. This is an earthy and yet fine wine and thus somehow totally French; because only there you actually find this balance of peasant and lordly in a wine. Here, it smells again of earth and a hint of agriculture and thus, exactly after the Gôut de CampagneThe Grolleau is a wine that used to be so typical from the Loire to Bordeaux and Roussillon, but which is becoming increasingly rare. The Grolleau has an aging potential of 15+ years. Grolleau is next to Pineau d'Aunis one of the most beautiful discoveries you can make in the Loire Valley.