Grapes: Cab Franc
Region: Bourgueil, Loire, France
Vintage: 2018
Viticulture: Organic
Soils: Limestone + Gravel
Vinification: The grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted berry by berry at optimal ripeness. Thanks to the early-ripening terroir, the " Les Mauguerets " cuvée is often the first to be harvested. Punching down the vines twice a day is performed for about ten days, and maceration is then extended for 15 to 20 days to perfect the extraction. Thus, after racking and pressing, malolactic fermentation always takes place in wooden vats.
Aging: 1 year in large wooden foudres
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: Minimal
Notes from the Importer: Run by Gérald Vallée since 1997, Domaine de la Cotelleraie is a 26-hectare family estate devoted to Cabernet Franc in the heart of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Farming organically since 1999 (certified in 2012), Gérald works the vines by hand, focusing on living soils and balanced yields. In the cellar, fermentations are slow and natural, aging takes place in large oak foudres and barriques, and every decision is made to let the gravelly and limestone terroirs speak clearly. The result: fresh, precise, and vibrant Loire reds that combine immediate drinkability with real aging potential.
