Domaine de la Motte 2007 Tasting Notes
Coteaux du Layon Rochefort 2006
Anjou blanc
Clos des Belles Mères 2006
Anjou-Villages rouge 2005
Over the last decade Gilles has built a strong reputation, and has become established as one of the region’s finest winemakers. He has won a multitude of awards both here and in France, including a coveted Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2004.
Gilles’ kingdom is Rochefort, one of just seven villages allowed to attach its name to the prestigious appellation of Coteaux du Layon. The soils at the top of the slopes here are schistous; everywhere you look, you can see huge pieces of slate at the surface of the soil. It is the unique marriage of this slate, thin topsoil and of course the small but significant River Layon, which makes this ideal sweet-wine country. Undoubtedly, the flagship wine of Gilles’ domaine is his Coteaux du Layon Rochefort. However, his red wines are some of the best in the region and his Anjou-Villages rouge from the near-perfect 2005 vintage is one of the wine world’s great bargains!
Gilles displayed all his skills and talents during the 2006 vintage. There was little of the elusive noble rot in evidence and his famous Coteaux du Layon is testament to excellent winemaking on his part. It has a deep almost coppery colour and subtle honeyed, wet stone aromatics and sweet flavours of honey and orange peel with balancing lemony acidity. This is an extremely versatile wine, equally well suited to rich dishes, sweet desserts or blue cheese. Gilles recommends drinking it well chilled as an aperitif wine.
The Anjou blanc Clos des Belles Mères (mother-in-laws’ wine) is also from the 2006 vintage. This was a really good vintage for whites and this Anjou, consisting of 10% Chardonnay and 90% Chenin Blanc, is fresh and lively with a steely, mineral nose and good pear and citrus fruit richness on the palate with slightly creamy, nutty finish of good length. It can be enjoyed on its own or as an aperitif, and yet is full-bodied enough to match white meat and poultry dishes. Although drinking well now, it will also keep well.
His superb red Anjou-Villages is full of character and has excellent ageing capability. This deep, almost impenetrable black wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and is quite full and generous with a characteristic earthy nose and soft ripe raspberry, blackcurrant and vanilla flavours. Try it with fuller flavoured dishes, Sunday lunch or a simple, Tuesday night pasta dish!