Grolleau, Vin de Pays du Val de Loire – 2011 – 91 points, Year’s Best Loire – Wine & Spirits
91 points
“This property, located between Angers and Saumur, has been farmed under biodynamics since 2000. Anne-Claude Leflaive and her husband, Christian Jacques, had worked with the owners since 2006 and purchased the domaine in 2008. It includes 4.94 acres of grolleau, the 60- to 90-year-old vines planted on silty clay made up of sandstone and red flint of tuffeau. Sylvain Potin manages the estate, aging this wine for a year on its fine lees, half the lot in old Burgundy casks, the other half in vat. The result is a fascinating Loire red, its silken tannins carrying depths of juicy black currant flavor. The structure provides a little bitterness to balance the fruit, along with a note of pipe tobacco. Pour it with something rich, like chicken liver mousse.”
