Domaine de la Cotelleraie - L'Envolée 2011
15,5/20
RVF
“The 2011 Envolée pushes the boundaries of maturity: dense tannins, depth, but fruit that’s slightly candied. ” (The Guide to the Best Wines of France 2015 – RVF). A superb Saint-Nicolas with a smooth, velvety mouthfeel, intense fruit, and a long finish. Richness, complexity, elegance—it has it all!
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Eye
dark red dress
Nose
Very delicate on the nose, powerful and elegant at the same time
Palate
Smooth on the palate, velvety, with intense fruit flavors and a long finish. Rich, complex, and elegant.
Serve
decant at 14-16°C
Open
1/2 hour before
Drink from
2015
Drink before
2021
Production
Sorting before destemming, maceration for 3 to 4 weeks
Food and Wine Pairings
Pair it with red meat, game, veal shank in a crust, pot-au-feu...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2025 guide): 2*Stars (A solid, recommendable production, though slightly more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
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 lineup is impressive right from the very first wines, which are elegant, refined, deep, and flavorful. There’s something for everyone in this range of very reasonably priced wines.
Guide des Vins Gault & Millau
Estate rated 1*Star (High-Quality Production)
About the estate:
Gérald Vallée cultivates 27 hectares of Cabernet Franc, which have been fully converted to organic farming, with all 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 fermentation tanks.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2015 guide) 15,5/20 (Good wine)
Rated estate (2026 guide): 2*Stars (These exceptional estates, often boasting fabulous terroirs, are must-haves that, thanks to the consistency and excellence of their wines, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers)
About the wine:
The 2011 Envolée takes maturity to the next level: dense tannins, depth, but fruit that’s slightly candied.
About the estate:
The meticulous Gérald Vallée leaves nothing to chance in his winemaking processes in wooden vats and his barrel aging. He produces full-bodied and alluring Cabernet Francs, characterized by smooth tannins that make them approachable even when young, 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 naturally, while Les Perruches is delicately 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.
Customer Rating
3.8/5
based on 6 reviews
Review by Mr. DIDIER B. Published on May 14, 2015
Unusual for a St. Nicolas. Leans toward Bordeaux. What's the point?
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Review and comment by Mr. JEAN FRANCOIS Q. Published on 11/30/2018
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Review by Mr. JEAN MARC B. Published on July 27, 2018
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Review and comment by Ms. ANNIE P. Posted on May 21, 2018
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Review by Mr. PHILIPPE D. Published on April 23, 2018
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Review by Mr. JEAN PIERRE M. Posted on May 14, 2015
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