Domaine Clos de la Roilette te Fleurie – great wine for a reasonable price
Alain Coudert 'Le Marquis'
Several times I have been able to taste the wines of Alain Coudert, nicknamed 'Le Marquis', and every time it was top notch. The vineyards of Coudert are located on the border with the Moulin-à-Vent appellation.
The terroir is atypical for the Fleurie appellation but produces wines of an aromatic intensity, elegance and purity that are considered impossible in this price range. In a recent tasting, a 1964 of the domain overwhelmed several big names from Burgundy.
A bit of history; the name La Roilette, comes from the favorite racehorse of the previous owner Crozet. He sold the domain to Alain's father in 1967. The terroir, one of the very best of Fleurie, also bears this name. The domain has a total of 10 hectares of vineyards, the majority of which are located in the Fleurie appellation and there are a total of 3 cuvées for this appellation, of which I ultimately selected 2.
The Fleurie Tradition accounts for the lion's share of production and is made from 50-year-old sticks. It's a wine you can't resist. It has a discreet nose that evolves into aromas of violets and raspberries veiled in a beautiful minerality. In the mouth it is powerful but weightless and above all generous with a fine structure and round soft tannins. Completely in harmony. A style reminiscent of the wines from the Côte de Nuits.
The Fleurie Cuvée Tardive is made from 80-year-old sticks from soils that contain more clay and therefore give the wine more concentration and fruit intensity. The nose is more spicy than that of the Tradition and has something of smoked aromas.
In the mouth it is refined and raced with noble tannins. It is a wine that is best left in the cellar for a few years in order to reach full maturity. That's why I thought it was a good idea to only offer it in magnums and double magnums. An absolute must for all your parties.
I keep repeating that the best Crus of the Beaujolais, to which Fleurie certainly belongs, remain too much under the radar. The region continues to struggle with an image problem. .Insiders, however, have known for some time that this beautiful region between Burgundy and Northern Rhône is one of the areas to follow with the largest dot.
Here fantastic wines are produced in the trend of what the consumer wants today; elegant, terroir-driven digestible wines!
Proefnotities
vinous.com ~ 21/03/2018
2016 - Clos de la Roilette/Alain Coudert
Fleurie Cuvée Tardive
SCORE 94
Lurid magenta. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe boysenberry and black raspberry, along with pungent floral, spice and herb notes. Coats the palate with sweet red/blue fruit, candied violet and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily with aeration. Conveys a suave blend of richness and energy and finishes extremely long and nervy, displaying harmonious tannins and resonating florality.
2016 - Clos de la Roilette/Alain Coudert
Fleurie
SCORE 93
Brilliant ruby-red. Intense, mineral-accented red and dark berry aromas pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively, offering juicy raspberry, bitter cherry and blood orange flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end thrust. Shows a touch of candied licorice on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with outstanding persistence.