Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: 2017 Coudert Clos de la Roilette
Posted on: 10/17/18 12:01 PM
Those in the know are already hitting reply, because this wine will sell out. There are already legion fans of this iconic estate who have this release on the short list of wines to buy by the case every year; then there will be the new fans, who first dipped their toe in when we were able to offer the lowest price in the country on the 2013s. Regardless, there’s never enough of this remarkable wine.
Alain Coudert’s iconic “Clos de la Roilette” is a red analogue of sorts to Marc Ollivier’s Muscadet “Clos des Briords,” offering, almost without question, the finest quality wine for the greatest value in perhaps all of French winedom. Not only is it delicious, ageworthy and capable of pairing with any range of foods from fish to fowl to flank steak. Hard to believe for a wine so entwined in the history of Beaujolais and which lays claim to a long heritage of being one of the finest, if not the finest of the appellation. I’ll let Joe Dressner tell the story behind the iconic label:
“In the 20’s, when the Fleurie appellation was first created, the former landowner was infuriated with losing the Moulin-à-Vent appellation under which the Clos had previously been classified. He created a label, using a photograph of his racehorse Roilette, and used the name Clos de la Roilette, without mentioning Fleurie. The owner vowed not to sell a drop of his wine on the French market and the production went to Switzerland, Germany and England.” – Joe Dressner
Today, we’re happy to report the wine now enjoys a good many fans in France, as well as here in the US!
2017 was a difficult year in Beaujolais, as the region was hit hard by hail and yields were seriously affected. However, quality wise, this may be on a level with 2014 or 2011 in the region, perhaps even better. There is excellent fruit and concentration, but also freshness, length and balance. In Andrew Jeffords’ words: “exceptional quality.”
As ever, what we have is what we have and when it is gone, it is gone.
2017 A. Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette
30-40 years old vines. Semi-carbonic maceration with submerged cap, temperature control and native yeasts, then aged in large oak foudres.
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