Description
The old vines of the Domaine des Pothiers is a Côte Roannaise that’s pure indulgence, a wine made purely for pleasure! With its old vines of Gamay Saint-Romain (a local variety of Gamay), Romain Paire has created a wine that epitomises his approach. A lively, unpretentious wine—understated, full-bodied and rich—that feels just like biting into a fresh berry.
In the vineyard, in the cellar
Organic and biodynamic cultivation. 100% Gamay Saint-Romain on granitic sands. Hand-harvested with sorting in the vineyard. Selection of old vines, two-thirds destemmed, 15-day maceration, with some punching down. Aged for 8 to 12 months in concrete vats and truncated-cone wooden vats.
The vines are planted at a density of around 5,000 vines per hectare. We alternate between tilling the soil and growing green manure between the rows. The soil is ploughed beneath the vines to encourage deep root growth. Fertilisation is carried out exclusively using compost from our cattle farm. The Domaine des Pothiers practises short pruning (Cordon de Royat) combined with green pruning (de-suckering, leaf removal, trellising, etc.). This allows for yield control, as well as optimal aeration of the bunches. This is done to achieve high ripeness and thus perfect quality.
Gamay Saint-Romain
The soils, which are very sandy and well-drained, are of granitic origin. They are ideally suited to the local grape variety: Gamay Saint-Romain. Some of the more clay-rich plots are dedicated to growing Chardonnay. The quality and distinctive character of the wines of the Côte Roannaise led to their classification as an AOC in 1994.
What to eat with a Côte Roannaise Vieilles Vignes from Domaine des Pothiers?
- A Berry pâté
- Rabbit or duck rillettes
- An Auvergne stew
- Roast turkey
Romain Paire in the Guide to the Best Wines of France
“Close to the source of the Loire, the Côte Roannaise appellation stretches across the foothills of the Massif Central, at an altitude of between 400 and 500 metres. This little-known vineyard is planted on sandy soils of granitic origin. The local red grape variety is Gamay Saint-Romain, a variant of Gamay found only here. ”
(Source: RVF / Le Guide Vert)
