...the journey starts where the Loire
surrenders itself to the ocean near
Saint-Nazaire and the wild headland of Pointe
de Saint-Gildas, a landscape of
thatched cottages and peat wetlands unlike
anywhere else in France. From here you head
East.
A short drive
upriver brings you to Nantes, where the
medieval Château des Ducs de Bretagne and
Jules Verne's whimsical mechanical elephant
(Les Machines de l'Île) anchor a city that has
become a genuine food destination;
L'Atlantide 1874 and LuluRouget both hold
Michelin stars, alongside standouts like Les
Cadets and Freia.
Continuing
east along the Loire river you pass Anjou
and the town of Saumur then thread
through Chinon, with its riverside fortress
before reaching Tours and the Vouvray
hillsides.
You eventually
come upon the appellations of Sancerre
and Pouilly-Fumé before entering the spa town
of Vichy at which point the road climbs into
the volcanic heart of France: the Chaîne des
Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage chain of over 80
dormant volcanic cones.
After 550 or
so miles and about 11 hours in the car you
arrive slightly exhausted and certainly
thirsty, at Domaine Sérol located in the
Côte Roannaise; an appellation that is so far
upper river that you are now near the river's
source.
The
appellation is famous above all for a rare,
local variant of Gamay called Gamay
Saint-Romain. It's the sole grape
permitted for both the reds and rosés; no
blending, no other varieties allowed.
As we are
always curious here at Renegade we sought out
one of the best producers in the area and
tasted a few of their reds. They were
outstanding.
About the
winery:
Stéphane Sérol
is leading his 5th generation estate on the
path to excellence. The 34 hectares of
vineyards showcase the Gamay grape, which
truly comes into its own here on the granite
and porphyry soils. Combined with meticulous,
biodynamic viticulture, this estate stands out
for its carefully crafted, hand-harvested
wines. The various wines offer a fresh
structure and rich, indulgent flavors.
Two
of their wines now in stock:
2023
Domaine Sérol Côte Roannaise Oudan $35
" Gem wine—the harmony between the tannins,
the rich fruit, and the graphite notes is
remarkable!"
You’ll quickly fall in love with this elegant,
wonderfully fruity red. Its structure and
perfect balance make for a superb tasting
experience. A delightful wine to share and
impress.
On a south-facing granite hillside in Oudan,
at an elevation of between 400 and 450 meters,
20% stem inclusion, 11 months in large wood
vat.
2023 Domaine Sérol Côte Roannaise Chez
Muron $50
"A superb Côte Roannaise, made even more
exceptional by aging in amphorae"
Chez Muron is a richly structured and complex
wine, with aromas of ripe red fruits and notes
of fresh earth brought to the forefront by
amphora vinification. A delicious wine, full
of freshness. It’s already enjoyable but will
continue to improve over the next few
years.
A place known as Chez Muron, a granite
plateau, facing east, at an elevation of 480
to 500 meters. No stem inclusion. Slow, long
maceration for 7 months and then aged a
further 4 months in Amphorae.
Stop by
Renegade for a bottle or two of these rare
gems.
