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Monday, 27 June 2011

Philippe Germain (Château de la Roulerie): a quartet of recent whites

Philippe Germain taking a sample of Anjou Blanc@La Roulerie 
 
At the end of May Philippe Germain (Château de la Roulerie in Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné) sent me samples of four of his recent whites: all Chenin Blanc – two Anjou Blancs and two Coteaux du Layon.
2010 Chenin Blanc (Anjou Blanc) 

Philippe is well aware that in a number of markets Chenin Blanc has higher value than Anjou Blanc so isn't afraid to emphasise Chenin Blanc on his 'basic' dry white cuvée. The 2010 is attractively fresh and lemony with a hint of honey in the mid-palate finishing cleanly mineral.

2010 Les Terrasses

The 2010 Les Terrasses has more weight, depth and length than the straight Anjou. Well balanced with quite marked acidity this needs a year or so to show its best. 

2010 Coteaux du Layon
 
Philippe makes two Layons: this 'basic' cuvée and Les Aunis. Once again here is a demonstration that concentrated sweetness isn't everything in sweet wines. The 2010 basic Layon makes a most attractive aperitif with its fresh citric sweetness and clean finish. This is a Layon to drink with sauced dishes – a pheasant or chicken à la normande (apple and cream) for example or with blue cheese even rich patés but certainly not with desserts. The 2009 Les Aunis is considerably richer with peach and apricot fruit, some honey but is more cloying lacking the fresh acidity you find in a 2007 or a 2010. It would, however, be a reasonable bet with a fruit tart or a fresh summer fruit dessert.   
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous24 July 2011 at 03:27

    Jim...just opened the `06 and thought Goats Cheese would be a fair match. Guess should have stuck with blue!
    Very nice white, plenty of white stonefruit here and not too cloying.

    Bob

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  2. Jim's Loire24 July 2011 at 07:58

    Bob. Yeah the blue would have been the safer choice. With the goat it might depend upon how mature it was.

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  3. Anonymous17 May 2013 at 11:44

    Jim, my family and I are visiting the Loire region this September.We recently met up with a sommelier from Raffles Hotel in Singapore who highly recommended Philippe Germain's wines and suggested we try to visit.Is there a way to contact the Chateau de la Roulerie or perhaps Philippe Germain to see if there is a possibility of organising a visit to the estate?
    Thanks for your advice.
    John

    ReplyDelete