Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2020: best 2023 to 2040.
vintage3 yrs20 yrs22 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Decanter reviewed 2022202092/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

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.

  1. 1980: Les Vieux Clos bottling begins under the Joly label

Facts

Producer
Clos de la Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly) · visiting guide
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)

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.

Tags

biodynamic biodynamic certified cellar worthy chenin blanc dry high acid medium body mood elegant mood savoury occasion cellar occasion dinner party occasion special old world organic pairs with poultry pairs with shellfish pairs with soft cheese pairs with white fish price premium single vineyard still white vegan

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