All about the Coulée de Serrant
Owned exclusively by the Joly family, the Coulée de Serrant vineyard alone constitutes an appellation contrôlée of just 7 hectares. Since 1984, the entire estate has been cultivated according to the methods of biodynamic agriculture.
Explore our appellation sheet
Key figures
Figures based on average harvests over the last 5 years
.6
Ha150
Hl20k
Bottles25
hl/ha in yield1
Producers
Origins
History
The name Bonnezeaux could have several origins. It could be derived from the ferruginous mineral resurgences enjoyed by spa-goers since antiquity, or it could have Celtic origins, as the names Burniselus, Bonnezel or Bonnazel have been known since the 10th century. As early as the Middle Ages, the Plantagenets sent Bonnezeaux wines to the finest tables of the English, German and Dutch courts.
| XII | The first vines | The Coulée de Serrant was planted in the 12the century (1130) by monks and has remained under vine ever since. The former small monastery, still part of the property, is listed as a historic monument. |
| 1214 | History | Adjacent to the vines are the ruins of the ancient fortress of La Roche aux Moines, which guarded the Loire and where Philippe Auguste's son was victorious against Jean Sans Terre, brother of Richard the Lionheart, in 1214. This battle is contemporary with that of Bouvines. |
| - | Heritage | A 300-meter-long fortified walkway, known as the " Cimetière des Anglais ", also listed, allows visitors to see at a glance the vineyards and the Loire River below, which it dominates. Vestiges of a distant past, including Celtic, Roman and Carolingian times, can still be found everywhere on this site steeped in history. |
| XX | Reputation | Louis XI spoke of it with devotion : "la goutte d'or". Louis XIV tried to visit it in a carriage that got bogged down "the sovereign conceived some rumors " rumor has it. Maurice Constantin Weyer spoke of it, Alexandre Dumas too, and more recently, at the beginning of the 20th century, Curnonsky, the prince of gastronomes, defined it as one of the 5 best white wines in France. |
Presentation
It alone is an appellation contrôlée of just 7 hectares.
Situated on very steep slopes overlooking the Loire, the vines grown from the Chenin grape variety have an average age of over 35 to 40 years; the oldest, over 80 years old, provide the wood to make new vines that carry the originality of the place.
Soil and climate
The very shallow soil (20 to 40 cm on average) is on an oblique red schist base that drains the vines perfectly. The orientation of the slopes is mainly South/South-East.
Total area : 7 hectares, steep slopes rather South-facing
Planted in 1130 by Cistercian monks and always remained in vines since.
Soil working partly by horse.
Average age of vines : 35/40 years,the oldest vines are 80 years old
Density : 4800 to 6700 vines/hectare most trellised, some not.
Soil : schist, quartz
Biodynamic farming since 1981 with control.
Cultivation methods
Yield: 20-25 hectoliters/hectare (40 allowed)
Biodynamic agriculture since 1981 with control.
In the cellar :
Matured in oak barrels for 6 to 8 months.
New wood limited 5%
Indigenous yeast
No chaptalization, no relevurage, no temperature control.
1 to 2 rackings.
Bâtonnage.
Very light filtration known as " pre-filtration " most of the time.
Light sulfiting before bottling
Terroir and wines
The AOC is shaped by its soil and microclimate, and since 1984 we've been practicing biodynamics. Our compost comes from our herd of Nantes cows, fed locally, enriching the vines without weedkillers for 20 years. The soil is minimally tilled, sometimes with a horse, and natural grassing allows for rich biodiversity.
Ouessant sheep and beehives contribute to the ecological balance. We treat diseases with local plant teas and minimize the use of copper and sulfur. Severe pruning and meticulous harvesting guarantee vintages of exceptional quality.