Description
Le Coeur de la Reine, Touraine Gamay
“La Coeur de la Reine” is a collaborative effort between Rodolphe & Ludivine Marteau (Domaine Jacky Marteau) and Vincent Leclair (Domaine de la Rochette)—both fourth-generation winemaking families in Touraine. The Marteaus farm 29 hectares while Leclair’s estate measures 45, with vine ages for the Gamay averaging out at around 30 years.
The hand-harvested Gamay grapes for this wine are subjected to a brief carbonic maceration, as in Beaujolais, wherein bunches of whole berries gently rupture and begin fermenting in stainless steel tanks—leading to a less extracted, less tannic style of red. After it has completed fermentation, the wine rests in tank for about six months before release. Light ruby in the glass, with pink and magenta reflections, this is a brightly fruity, berry-scented red that takes well to a chill.
