In the glass
Aroma: quince, honey, candied citrus, chamomile
Palate: honey, preserved lemon, saffron, waxy texture
Nicolas Joly's 7-hectare biodynamic monopole AOC on schist over the Loire. quince, honey and waxy texture over an electric mineral spine.
What it pairs with
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Roast chicken with truffle
Earthy truffle bridges to the wine's honey and waxy depth; the full body handles roast poultry. -
Lobster Newburg
Rich shellfish cream meets full body and saline mineral; preserved-citrus signature cuts butter. -
Aged Comté with walnut
Hazelnut crystallisation in 36+ month Comté finds the wine's honey and waxy texture. -
Vol-au-vent with sweetbreads
Offal and puff pastry need a wine with weight and acid; honey lifts the cream sauce.
History
Coulée de Serrant is its own appellation: a 7-hectare monopole held by the Joly family. Nicolas Joly converted the estate to biodynamic farming in 1984, becoming a global ambassador for the practice.
- 1962 — Joly family acquires the Coulée de Serrant monopole
- 1984 — Nicolas Joly converts the estate to biodynamic farming
- 2007 — Joly establishes the Renaissance des Appellations group of biodynamic producers
Facts
- Producer
- Clos de la Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly)
- Grapes
- Chenin Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Savennières-Coulée de Serrant AOC (monopole)
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in older oak demi-muids and tank, no new oak, around 12 to 18 months
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 100 to 180 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1962
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- DEMETER
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Decanter 95 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Coulée de Serrant
What does Coulée de Serrant taste like?
Quince, honey, candied citrus and chamomile on the nose; honey, preserved lemon, saffron and waxy texture on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long, layered finish.
When should I drink Coulée de Serrant?
Drink between 5 and 40 years from vintage. The cuvée is documented to cellar for decades; younger vintages benefit from 4 to 6 hours of decanting, or even 24-hour opening; mature bottles develop saffron, dried fruit and waxy texture.
What is the Coulée de Serrant AOC?
Coulée de Serrant is its own AOC: a 7-hectare biodynamic monopole entirely owned by the Joly family within the Savennières region. The Joly family acquired the estate in 1962.
Is Coulée de Serrant vegan?
Yes. The estate has been Demeter-certified biodynamic since 1984 and uses no animal-derived fining agents.