Domaine de la Cotelleraie - L'Envolée 2011

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 lineup is impressive right from the first wines, which are elegant, refined, deep, and flavorful. There’s something for everyone in this range of very reasonably priced wines.

Gérald Vallée cultivates 27 hectares of Cabernet Franc, all of which have been converted to organic farming, with the care one would expect: tilling the soil, 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 tanks.

The 2011 Envolée takes maturity to the next level: dense tannins, depth, but fruit that’s slightly candied.

The meticulous Gérald Vallée leaves nothing to chance in his winemaking in wooden vats and his barrel aging. He produces full-bodied and alluring 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 vinified with spontaneity, while Les Perruches is tactfully 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 in the region but also on the global stage. Its added vibrancy and freer, yet still very precise, expressions prompt us to award it a second star.