In the glass
Aroma: lemon, white peach, chamomile, stone
Palate: citrus, chalky mineral, stone fruit, honey
Joly's entry-level Savennières from biodynamic schist parcels. Citrus and chamomile lift over chalky mineral with the estate's signature waxy depth.
What it pairs with
-
Pike-perch with beurre blanc
Loire freshwater fish in butter sauce meets the wine's chalky mineral and stone-fruit depth. -
Goat cheese tart
Loire chèvre meets Chenin's chalky drive; lifted aromatics handle the puff pastry. -
Roast chicken with mushrooms
White-meat poultry and earthy mushroom; the wine's body handles roasting jus and acidity refreshes. -
Aged Crottin de Chavignol
Loire goat cheese with chalky drive and chamomile lift; quince echoes the rind.
History
Les Vieux Clos is the most accessible of Joly's three biodynamic Savennières cuvées. The wine offers a window into the estate's philosophy at a more approachable price.
- 1980 — Les Vieux Clos bottling begins under the Joly label
Facts
- Producer
- Clos de la Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly)
- Grapes
- Chenin Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Savennières AOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in older oak demi-muids and tank, no new oak, around 12 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1980
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- DEMETER
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Decanter 92 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Savennières Les Vieux Clos
What does Joly Les Vieux Clos taste like?
Lemon, white peach, chamomile and stone on the nose; citrus, chalky mineral, stone fruit and honey on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, layered finish.
When should I drink Les Vieux Clos?
Drink between 3 and 20 years from vintage. The biodynamic farming gives the wine more depth than typical Savennières; 60 minutes of decanting helps express the aromatics.
Where is Les Vieux Clos grown?
Within the Savennières AOC on schist soils, part of Joly's 7-hectare biodynamic estate.
Is Joly Les Vieux Clos vegan?
Yes. The estate has been Demeter-certified biodynamic since 1984 and uses no animal-derived fining agents.