We’re once again going Deeper, setting our sights on a compelling corner of the Loire whose wines you probably don’t see every day but which demands our attention…and magnetizes our palates.
When Stéphane Sérol and his wife, Carine, took over Domaine Sérol in 1996 (the property has been in the family since the 17th Century), they set about selecting the best potential terroirs of granite soils at high altitudes (400 to 500 meters), clearing fields and plots on the most optimal hillsides to replant as vineyards. They more than doubled the estate’s initial 12 hectares of vines.
Gamay Saint-Romain, a more muscular strain of the familiar Gamay grape that handily dominates Beaujolais as well as much of the Loire, is the region’s signature variety. The Saint-Romain variant excels with lower yields and smaller berries that are more conducive to both concentration and structure while demanding additional dedication in the vineyard – an investment that Stéphane and Carine make in spades.
Sérol’s affinity for Gamay Saint-Romain is matched by the estate’s passion for showcasing terroir. Through the truest expression of the fruit, the unique identity of the individual terroirs resolutely reveals itself. The trio of cuvées appearing in our Deeper six-pack (two of each selection) are the perfect poster children for this phenomenon.
