Domaine de Coyeux 'Solera', Muscat de Beaumes de Venise

A deliciously sweet wine, with aromatic notes of ripe tropical fruits, complemented by fragrant, fresh fruits and smoky overtones. Rich, smooth and sweet on the palate, beautifully balanced by freshness and elegance.

Producer Note

Domaine de Coyeux is a beautifully located winery comprising 130 hectares of vineyard in a one site block, set in the rolling dramatic hillsides of Beaumes-de-Venise. The 120 hectare estate was established in 1950 and since 2020 it has been in the hands of Arnaud and Isabelle Strasser. The vines are planted at an altitude of 260 to 300 metres above sea level, where the ancient soils come from one of the very rare outcrops of the Comtadine region’s Trias. Following an ethical and ecological philosophy, the estate is HVE sustainable certified and is in conversion to organic certification. Winemaker Clément Bernardi fuses traditional vinification with contemporary methods to produce stylish and elegant wines which offer layers of complexity.

Vineyard

The Muscat à Petit Grains grapes are grown in estate vineyards in the appellation of Muscat Beaumes de Venise. The vineyard provides naturally healthy conditions, due to its 300-metre altitude, which offers the vines good exposure to the sun and cleansing breezes which imparts a natural freshness to the grapes and resulting wine. The microclimate of the vineyard with diurnal temperature shifts enables gentle methods of cultivation to be employed, to maintain a healthy vineyard. The vines are sustainably cultivated, and the estate is HVE certified. The vines are planted in extremely old, alluvial, sandy soils from the Trias area. The area is surrounded by the mountainous area of Dentelles de Montmirail, with its ancient soils and specific microclimate in which the vines produce complex wines. Excessive buds and leaves are removed in the spring to aerate the strains and increase the leaf’s surface area exposed to the sun. Debudding reduces the production of berries and concentrates the flavours and aromas in those remaining. Biodiversity is encouraged and the ‘living soils’, where microbial life creates organic soil enrichment, nourishes the vines. The grapes are hand harvested at optimal maturity.

Winemaking

The grapes were transported in 20-kilogram boxes to retain the high quality of the fruit; they were then destemmed and crushed. The grapes were pressed, and the juice was clarified before temperature-controlled fermentation took place with selected yeasts. Part of the wine was aged concrete vats to retain the purity of fruit and part of the wine was aged in oak to add subtle complexity. The distinctive feature of the vinification for this cuvée is the refreshing of the 2008 base wine every year with the new harvest, via fractional blending in a solera system, which results in a dessert wine of layered complexity, combining the traditional sweetness with balanced freshness from the younger vintages.

Tasting Note

A deliciously sweet wine, with aromatic notes of ripe tropical fruits, complemented by fragrant, fresh fruits and smoky overtones. Rich, smooth and sweet on the palate, beautifully balanced by freshness and elegance.

Grape

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains 100%