Domaine Jean-François Mérieau
We think that the wines of Jean-François Mèrieau are amongst the most interesting in Touraine. Jean-François spent some time working outside France, including an extended stay in South Africa. He has applied this experience to his work in the Loire, where he is keen to preserve the viticultural heritage and tradition, working with less fashionable varieties and old vines. We have added more wines from his range. "Les Hexagonales" is a delicious and excellent value Pinot Noir from St. Pourçain, a small wine growing area between Sancerre and Macon. The rest of the wines in the range are available in small quantities but present a refreshingly different view of what the Loire can offer. His two Cot (Malbec) bottlings are from old vines and challenge perceptions of what can be achieved with this grape in the region. Both wines reveal complex floral (violet) aromas and black fruit supported by judicious use of oak, with concentrated but elegant palates framed with supple tannins.
The Tirage Limite Sauvignon Rose is a very distinctive, aromatic white that should not be missed. Only 1500 bottles were produced and we have a small parcel. The fruit from this rare variety was sourced from two small vineyard plots in the Cher Valley, where it has fallen from favour because of its low resistance to disease and small yields. The wine was produced in a mixture of tank, old barriques and 25% new barrels, with battonage, to produce a wine of exceptional flavour intensity.
His Vouvray is made in a dry style (5g/L) and is released with some bottle age. The wine was fermented and matured in a mixture of stainless steel and old and new barriques to give a vibrant, complex wine.
See Jean-François talking about his vineyards here
Visit the producer's website here..
Currently available:
2008 Pinot Noir "Les Hexagonales"
2008 Cent Visages Cot *temporarily out of stock*
" Oh yum, a witch’s brew of a wine, with smoky herby damson, pomegranate and citrus peel flesh backed up by tangy acidity; forget top-heavy Argie Malbec, this is refreshing and moreish. S" Simon Woods, Drinking Outside the Box blog, April 7th 2011
see the video here...
2006 Gueule de Boa Cot
"Purple in the glass. This has blackcurrant leaf aromas, supported by soft bramble and blackberry fruit. Overall, a spicy structure with resolved tannins." Caspar Auchterlonie, Imbibe, Nov/Dec 2010
2005 Fleuve Blanc Vouvray
"...if you are after something that carries itself more seriously, try the jaw-dropping J-F Merieau, Fleuve Blanc, Vouvray 2005 from the Loire, pure, but textured, with apple blossom notes and amazing minerality." 50 great wines for Christmas, Decanter, Jan 2011.
" A completely different style of Chenin, with rounded citrus, apple (cooked and fresh) and slightly-undercooked cake mixture flavours pepped up by intriguing notes of warm roof tiles (bit pretentious, but, hey), burnt sugar and beeswax, and with a real undercurrent of the soil running through the wine. Rich but elegant, and a wonderfully complex and tasty treat. S+" Simon Woods, Drinking outside the box, 3/6/2011
see the video here...
2008 Tirage Limite Sauvignon Rose
