Domaine de la Cotelleraie - Les Perruches 2009

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

By converting his vineyard in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil to organic farming, Gérald Vallée has undertaken a thorough approach to respecting the grapes. His wines reflect all the elegance and delicacy that the appellation’s diverse terroir has to offer. The range is impressive right from the first wines, which are elegant, refined, deep, and flavorful. There is something for everyone in this range of very reasonably priced wines.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

Gérald Vallée cultivates 27 hectares of Cabernet Franc, all of which have been converted to organic farming, with the care one would expect: soil cultivation, leaf removal… The entire production is classified under the Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation. In the cellar, no yeast or enzymes are added to the vats.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The meticulous Gérald Vallée leaves nothing to chance in his winemaking process, which involves fermentation in wooden vats and aging in barrels. He produces full-bodied, seductive Cabernet Francs, characterized by smooth tannins that make them approachable even in their youth, yet also endowed with good aging potential. Recent vintages have gained considerably in fruit brilliance, bringing them closer to the freshness of their terroir. The “fruit-forward” cuvée La Croisée is crafted with spontaneity, while Les Perruches is artfully styled in wooden vats to highlight the identity of these flinty clay soils. On the Coteau du Vau Jaumier, the Cabernet Franc reveals an inimitable smoothness and “sandy texture.” And Postumus? A marvel of Cabernet Franc vinified from whole clusters, with notes of citrus and rose—a wine that stands out not only for the region but for the rest of the world as well. The added vibrancy and freer expressions, while remaining highly precise, lead us to award a second star.