Tasted with Alain Coudert in Fleurie, 09 February 2023.
Domaine Clos de la Roilette
Clos de la Roilette
69820 Fleurie
Tel: +33 4 74 69 84 37
www.clos-de-la-roilette.com
More reports with Domaine Clos de la Roilette
Alain on 2022:
“I had a little hail in 1.7 hectares – direction Marrans. So I think 45 hl/ha wasn’t bad. The wines are a little alcoholic – like most I suppose – 2-3 cuvées took their time to ferment but all are now done – some with malos in tandem! 22 had a lot more blocking of maturity than 2020. Maybe a bit more tannin than in 2020 too but they are opening up now. ”
Alain on 2021:
“In 2021 only a little over 30 hl/ha – 4 ha with only 5-10 hl/ha – that was the frost. I had a little hail in Brouilly too. But the fermentations were fine – 12.5° to 13° so there was plenty of maturity. Some of the cuvées have been bottled – or part bottled – but not all. I think we have a similar style to 2014 in some of the wines and they are very good to drink right now.”
The wines…
At this stage in their life, many of the 21s are showing some green notes – if you are not sensitive, you will find many excellent wines – if you are sensitive then, perhaps, a carafe will help!
2021 Brouilly
The vines come from the maternal side of the family, but it’s only a small parcel..
Lots of freshness and plenty of pyrazine. Nice shape and energy – good flavour in the mouth too. Large, delicious dark fruit, finishing with a little chalky texture. That tastes great – though I’m not the biggest fan of the nose.
2021 Fleurie Cuvée Christie
Parcels in Champagne And Deduits blended
Fine, slightly sweet dark fruit and freshness – that’s a fine aromatic invitation. Supple, fine flavour, mouth-watering with lovely energy.
2021 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette
A very faint green but also more floral here. Broader and more intense, supple, plenty of concentration. Lovely wine – the finish is very fine. A very good version of this cuvée
2021 Clos de la Roilette Cuvée Tardive
Parcels here in Roilette from old vines of at least 70-years-old “Really the cuvée to drink a little later – but I don’t write vieilles vignes because it really doesn’t mean that much.” 90% elevage in foudres for about 8 months. The name tardive is not because they choose later harvesting, rather because these vines take longer to mature.
Also a faintly herbed note but a width of perfumed fruit too. The green a little more visible in the flavours but also more open and complex – lots of energy and some minerality too. The green disturbs me a little but if you are not sensitive you will find this really excellent – it’s very long too – faintly grained with tannin it will be much better in 2 years…
2021 Clos de la Roilette Griffe du Marquis
The stamp of the Marquis on this wax-topped, sommelier bottle. The same vines as tardive but matured in older barrels for 1 year before assembly into tank for 3 months. First produced in 2009, this bottled in mid-December.
There’s a hint of green here too but still, what a nose – complex and perfumed – really lovely. That sits beautifully in the mouth – a little warmth from the elevage – but it’s open, clean and complex, slightly rounded and easier to approach that the previous two. The finish remains with a little tannin so, of course, you should wait but this is very good.
And for the road – and the pleasure:
Muscular, a little spiced then a fine violet. Large scale, ripe but hardly too much, slight confiture – nearly – but lovely structure – for waiting, drink for sure the 2019 right now. Clearly the 21s don’t have anything close to this level of intensity and fruit. This is excellent wine, potentially more!
2010 Clos de la Roilette Griffe du Marquis
Ooh – that’s got some maturity, slightly fumé. Complex, modest sous-bois, perfumed wine. Direct, structured, almost mineral – cool and impressive – structure but not too much. A small detonation of flavour in the finish. You could drink this today – but there’s still lots of structure – I guessed 2012 but it was 10! Beautiful!