Attractive 2017 Cabochard Rosé, Côte Roannaise, Sérol

Another good 2017 – this time the 2017 Cabochard, Côte Roannaise Rosé from Domaine Sérol. 100% Gamay – vibrant pink colour, lively, refreshing but not acidic rosé. Good to drink even during the winter but should shine even more brightly in the summer. Stéphane and Carine Sérol's wines are consistently good. 

Although the Côte Roannaise is only a small appellation there are a group of good producers here who are well worth discovering – both for their Côte Roannaise appellation wines (red and rosé) but also for their IGP whites from a range of grape varieties including Rousanne and Viognier.  

2017 Éclat de granite, Côte Roannaise, Domaine Sérol

 

This is my first 2017 from the Côte Roannaise. Eclat de granite is na early bottling from Domaine Sérol, one of the best domaines in the Côte Roannaise. This long established estate is now run by Stéphane and Carine Sérol. Granite is the predominant soil here and Gamay, the sole grape variety permitted. 

The 2017 Eclat is delicious with soft vibrant red fruits and an attractive texture. This is very much a wine to enjoy its youthful fruit rather than to analyse. Another good vintage from this far flung part of the Loire.     

2017 Salon des Vins de Loire – Sunday 5th February

 Pierre-Marie Luneau, Domaine Luneau-Papin, 

Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Chris 'Dr Loire' Kissack 

tasting Luneau's Muscadet 

Bertrand Minchin, Menetou-Salon and Valençay

Bertrand was particularly badly hit by frost in Menetou in 2016

making virtually no wine.

Was impressed by Bertrand's 2015 Fumet and 2015 Honorine 

– two Menetous from very different terroirs

 

Pierre-Henry Pellé, Domaine Pellé
Menetou-Salon and Sancerre

Anne Pellé, Domaine Pellé
Menetou-Salon and Sancerre

The Pellés were badly hit by 2016 frosts in Menetou-Salon

 Xavier Weisskopf – maker of very precise and fine Montlouis

Hardly surprising that both Carine and Stéphane Sérol 

(Domaine Sérol) are smiling – 2016 was a 

very good vintage in the Côte Roannaise 

Jean Teissedre, Domaine des Berioles

Saint-Pourçain (above and below). Jean is a talented 

young producer. I particularly 

liked the 2016 Tressalier  

Emmanuel Ogereau creating a silent 

and impressive revolution at Domaine Ogereau, 

Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay (Anjou)

Pascal Cailleau, Domaine de Sauveroy, also in Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay

When I first started coming to Anjou 

and the Salon des Vins de Loire Pascal 

had just taken over the family domaine. 

Pascal continues to be enthusiastic and making good wine 

 

 

2013 Salon des Vins de Loire: Jean Teissèdre, Domaine des Bérioles, Saint-Pourçain

Jean Teissèdre, Domaine des Bérioles, Saint-Pourçain

While tasting some attractive 2012 wines from the Côte Roannaise with Carine and Stéphane Sérol (Domaine Robert Sérol), they urged me to taste the wines of Jean Teissèdre, who was sharing the stand with them. As I invariably do as I'm told, I went and tasted Jean's wines and am I glad that I did for this was a welcome new discovery.

Jean Teissèdre took over the running of the eight hectare Domaine des Bérioles in 2011. Prior to this he had gained experience in Pouilly-Fuissé as well as Mâcon plus a time in 2010 with the excellent François Crochet in Sancerre. The eight hectares are two thirds white and one third red. The whites are Chardonnay and Tressalier, which is Saint-Pourcain's local special grape, while Gamay and Pinot Noir make up the reds. Most of the vines are on clay and limestone, while the Pinot Noir is on granite. 

Of the five wines I tasted I particularly liked the 2012 Trésaille, which 90% Trésailler and 10% Chardonnay. It would be good to taste this once it is in bottle. I also enjoyed the 2011 L'intrepide made from 100% Pinot Noir and aged in barrique. This had sweet ripe fruit, nice concentration, some spice. It needs more time in bottle but there is certainly potential there and worked better than the 2011 Auvernat, which is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay – easy drinking but a bit cloying. 2012 Les Grands Brières was the other red I tried. This soft, fruity red is 90% Gamay and 10% Pinot Noir with a touch of spice in the finish.  

I look forward to tasting Jean's wines again in the future. 

2012 Trésaille, Saint-Pourçain, Domaine des Berioles

Good modern but classic label

Jean Teissèdre, Domaine des Bérioles