Grolleau IGP 2018

Wine Description for Grolleau IGP 2018 by Clau de Nell

Colour & Appearance

Intense garnet red with vibrant purple reflections – a colour depth one wouldn’t expect from this underestimated Loire varietal.

Nose

Decanting is essential, then a fascinating aromatic profile unfolds: ripe cherries and plums meet wild strawberries and raspberries. Add to this a wonderful spice layer of herbs, black pepper and damp forest floor. This combination of earthiness and elegance defines its special character.

Palate

A Loire wine that defies categorisation – somewhere between Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, between rustic charm and aristocratic finesse. Red fruit dominates with wild strawberries, raspberries and plums, carried by vibrant freshness. The still youthfully firm tannins grip powerfully without losing precision. Peppery notes in the long, complex finish.

Finish

Long, structured and complex with a fine peppery quality that lingers. The tannins promise a great future.

Terroir & Origin

The 55-year-old vines are rooted in loamy-silty soil on sandstone as well as red flint on Tuffeau (limestone). Minimal yield of just 25 hl/ha – concentration in its purest form.

Varietal & Vinification

Grolleau – an autochthonous Loire variety that normally ends up only in off-dry Rosé d’Anjou. Claude and Nelly dared the experiment of a dry, single-varietal expression and proved what potential lies in this grape. Hand-harvested in 12-kilo crates, destemmed, 30 days of maceration. Aged 30% in Burgundian Pièces (5-7 years old), 70% in large wooden vats, then a further six months in stainless steel.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Baked goat’s cheese with beetroot, honey and cinnamon, lamb kofta with cherries and tahini, pan-fried blood sausage with crispy onions and apple purée.

Special Features

Alongside Pineau d’Aunis, one of the finest discoveries on the Loire. Ageing potential: 15+ years. A wine that proves forgotten grape varieties are unjustly overshadowed.