Domaine Brazilier Coteaux du Vendômois Rosé “Tradition” 2024

Alcohol: 13%

Grape(s): 100% Pineau d’Aunis 

Localization: Loire Valley, France

Tasting Notes: This 100% pinot d’aunis rosé has a beautiful pale salmony orange-pink color. The aromas are a captivating combination of strawberries and cantaloupe with honeysuckle and watermelon rind. The palate is lush and concentrated with flavors of strawberries, green melon, lime zest and the trademark refreshing hint of white pepper of pineau d’aunis. The finish is long, vibrant and textured.

Notes: The grapes are directly pressed in a pneumatic wine press, and fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures with selected yeast. The wine is not fined, filtered by kieselguhr. Total SO2 80mg/l

The Domain: Situated between Vendôme and Montoire, Coteaux du Vendômois stretches across the banks of the Loire. An AOC since May 2000, Coteaux du Vendômois have a historic reputation...Ronsard, Balzac, Henri IV were particularly fond of these wines.

Owner, Jean Braziler, has a tire-fitter’s grip of a handshake. His son Benoît represents the seventh generation of Braziliers to have worked vineyards in Thoré-la-Rochette. He joined his father in 1997 and although only in his mid-thirties is the current head of the local wine growers syndicate. Together, they farm 25 hectares of vines, a significant holding in these parts. Ten of these are family owned and mostly replanted by Jean himself over the past 25 years. In total, fifteen hectares are under the appellation Coteaux du Vendômois, but they also produce Vin de Pays using Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and some Gamay. For the appellation wines, they tend four hectares of Chenin Blanc, five of Pineau d’Aunis and seven of Cabernet Franc. There are also a couple of hectares of Pinot Noir planted too. The vineyard is entirely grown organically. Jean, the father is still involved but his son Benoit is making the wines. All of their wine is produced in caves carved out of the limestone hillsides during the 12th century.