Côt is the local name for Malbec in the Loire Valley. The very serious and multi-layered Cuvée Pivoine comes from a single vineyard and is aged in amphora (20%) and in old barrels. The style here is bright and elegant, earthy with lively crushed berries. Very fine and ripe tannins and a long, soft finish.
'Herve Villemade Pivoine Cot is a brilliant addition to our list! It has all of the juicy fruit of Malbec, without being heady nor weighty. There's some resin / sappiness but it doesn't feel underripe, it adds a savoury character. Soft and mouth-filling, bright acidity, you keep reaching back for another glass.' Fiona Cashin
DOMAINE HERVÉ VILLEMADE, Cour-Cheverny
Organic, Natural
Domaine Hervé Villemade is an estate of 25 hectares (17 of which are planted) located in Cour-Cheverny. It has passed from father to son from the installation of Hervé’s grandfather in 1939. Hervé took over the estate in 1995, after studying viticulture and winemaking.
In the late 90’s Hervé tasted his neighbour Thierry Puzelat’s wines (who was then in his second year of organic viticulture) as well as Marcel Lapierre’s Morgon and was struck by their purity. He decided to turn a couple of hectares organic just to check: no synthetic products, but ploughing and hand harvest instead, and no-or very-little sulphur. The results proved to him that he should travel the non-interventionist path. Hervé’s wines carry a trademark purity of fruit, the wines are fleshy, honest, generous and articulate.