Nicolas Joly - Coulée de Serrant 2024
Coulée de Serrant 2024 belongs to that very rare category of wines whose name far exceeds the scope of an appellation. Located in Savennières, on the banks of the Loire, this mythical 7-hectare vineyard constitutes an appellation d'origine contrôlée in its own right and remains a monopoly of the Joly family. Planted as early as 1130 by Cistercian monks, the vineyard has been considered for centuries as one of the great terroirs of white wines in France. The very steep slopes, partly worked by hand and horse, give Chenin Blanc an expression that is both powerful, mineral, and deeply unique. Nicolas Joly has made Coulée de Serrant one of the global symbols of biodynamics, with a radical vision of wine as a living reflection of the place. The 2024 vintage fits into this exceptional history, with a rare, sought-after cuvée always eagerly awaited by enthusiasts. It is an iconic, almost initiatory wine, never tasted as a simple great white from the Loire.
The Coulée de Serrant 2024 cuvée is made exclusively from Chenin Blanc, from old vines planted on schist and quartz soils. This poor, stony, and very draining terroir gives the wine a vertical structure, mineral intensity, and remarkable aging potential. Yields are naturally low, which favors concentration of the grapes and depth of the matter. Harvesting is done manually, in several passes according to the ripeness of the berries, in order to seek a full and complex expression of Chenin. Vinification relies on indigenous yeasts, without chaptalization or pursuit of a standardized profile, in the very free spirit of the estate. Aging in oak barrels, with a low proportion of new wood, accompanies the wine without masking its origin. Coulée de Serrant 2024 thus stands out by its density, energy, and this almost telluric dimension that makes the cuvée immediately recognizable.
In the glass, Nicolas Joly Coulée de Serrant 2024 reveals a deep, ample, and vibrant white, marked by the natural complexity of Chenin. The nose evokes quince, ripe pear, mirabelle plum, candied citrus, fine honey, and dried flowers, with a very characteristic smoky and stony nuance. The palate is broad, textured, and intense, but always carried by a mineral tension that extends the wine with authority. The balance plays on richness, noble bitterness, salinity, and a deep energy that reveals itself more with aeration. It is a wine that must be patiently awaited, opened in advance, and served in a large glass to allow all its complexity to express itself. It will ideally accompany roasted lobster, turbot with beurre blanc, scallops, creamy poultry, aged Comté cheese, or cuisine centered around noble mushrooms. To be kept for many years in the cellar, as Coulée de Serrant is among the great Chenins capable of gaining depth, spices, wax, honey, and minerality over time.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
