2016 Domaine Serol, Gamay “Eclat de Granite” Cote Roannaise, Loire Valley, France.
Stephane Serol’s Gamay wines are some of the best and most interesting made from this varietal, and this 2016 Eclat de Granite is absolutely stunning, and while the Cote Roannaise is technically in the Loire Valley region it is sometimes called the lost Cru of Beaujolais with it’s intense granite and hillside terroir it’s more like Morgon that Touraine! This wine is done with natural and organic preparations, 100% Gamay (Saint Romain clone) from vines that average between 40 and 90 years old, set on acidic granite soils with high density plantings and a exceptionally low yielding crop, Serol ferments with native yeast about 60% whole cluster in vat with only cement aging for 6 months then bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2016 is full of life and vitality, but with full flavors which lean towards dark fruits and with velvet laced tannins that are at once silky, but structured with a deep liquid stone element that is a thrill, this is serious stuff and a gorgeous wine that should continue to age well for another 5 to 7 years easy. This lightly spicy/stony Gamay pumps out the red and black fruits along with a iron/blood mineral earthy background with layers of blackberry, cherry, plum and lingonberry as well as dried peach/apricot, anise, flinty rock and a saline element.This is crisply dry and gets you salivating, best with simple cuisine to bring out the fullness of it’s personality, one of the most entertaining and unique Gamay wines out there, Serol, imported by Floraison Selections, is a must try wines, especially if you admire Cru Beaujolais, such as Lapierre and Foillard!
($28 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive