In the glass
Aroma: lemon zest, white peach, honeysuckle, chalk
Palate: citrus, quince, saline mineral, honey
Joly's Roche aux Moines bottling on schist. Citrus, quince and honey over a chalky, saline frame; smaller-scale than Coulée de Serrant but with the same biodynamic intensity.
What it pairs with
-
Sole bonne femme
Mushroom-shallot cream sauce meets the wine's textural weight; saline mineral cuts the cream. -
Roast capon
White-meat poultry needs the wine's body and acidity; chamomile lift partners tarragon stuffing. -
Aged Crottin de Chavignol
Loire goat cheese with chalky drive and honey lift; the wine's quince echoes the rind. -
Lobster ravioli with truffle
Shellfish and truffle bridge to the wine's stone-fruit depth and tuffeau mineral.
History
Le Clos de la Bergerie is a portion of the Roche aux Moines AOC farmed by the Joly family. The cuvée extends the estate's biodynamic project beyond the Coulée de Serrant monopole.
- 1980 — Le Clos de la Bergerie bottling begins under the Joly label
- 1984 — Estate fully converted to biodynamic farming
Facts
- Producer
- Clos de la Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly)
- Grapes
- Chenin Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Savennières-Roche aux Moines AOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in older oak demi-muids and tank, no new oak, around 12 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 60 to 100 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1980
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- DEMETER
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Vinous 93 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)
Frequently asked about Savennières-Roche aux Moines Le Clos de la Bergerie
What does Clos de la Bergerie taste like?
Lemon zest, white peach, honeysuckle and chalk on the nose; citrus, quince, saline mineral and honey on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long, layered finish.
When should I drink Clos de la Bergerie?
Drink between 5 and 25 years from vintage. Like Coulée de Serrant, the wine benefits from extended decanting (2 to 4 hours) to express its biodynamic intensity.
Where is Clos de la Bergerie grown?
Within the Savennières-Roche aux Moines AOC on schist soils. Part of Joly's 7-hectare biodynamic estate.
Is Clos de la Bergerie vegan?
Yes. The estate has been Demeter-certified biodynamic since 1984 and uses no animal-derived fining agents.