A short stopover in Aveyron, in the land of cows, fine gastronomy... and of course, wine! Despite what you might imagine, Aveyron is a marvel for wines! It's a mosaic of terroirs, bringing complexity and minerality to the wines. From Rodez in the direction of the Lot Valley, the eye is first drawn to the Marcillac vineyards, thanks to the astonishing blood-red valleys given by the red sandstone. Some vines are terraced to take advantage of and optimize the slope. Further on, you'll find schist here, granite there, sometimes limestone and white sandstone. It's impressive to see the differences in soil from one valley to another, on the steep flanks of the Lot, Dourdou, and Tarn valleys!
Wine in Aveyron has been present since the Middle Ages, thanks to the famous Way of St. James. Conques, famous for its abbey church, once had several vineyards in its surroundings. Today, the only winemaker in Conques itself, Patrick Rols, has been present since 2003 on a terroir entirely composed of schist! The vines majestically overlook the village and its abbey church! Supported by his brother Joël, he cultivates his small 6-hectare vineyard organically, and has done so since his very first vintage. The reds are made using infusions and gentle extractions, to preserve the freshness of the schist terroir and extract very silky tannins. The whites are very fine, vigorous, with mouth-watering finishes. His "Coccinelle" cuvée, 100% Chenin, is a personal favorite! It's as if the Chenin, here, has found one of its original terroirs...
A little further on, at the confluence of the Lot and the Truyère, a very pretty village on the water's edge called Entraygues-sur-Truyère is home to a little-known vineyard, yet with an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée since 2011: Entraygues-le-Fel! This is where Pauline Broqua settled on the heights, in a place called Les Buis, on 7 hectares today... Fer Servadou and Chenin are carefully and entirely naturally cultivated there. A former sommelier, tasting holds no secrets for her; she seeks straightforward, precise wines with beautiful freshness.
Let's go back to Marcillac! The Domaine des Costes Rouges has been practicing organic farming since 2009, and the vineyard is entirely planted on clay-sandstone soils, of a magnificent wine-red color, a very beautiful terroir typical of this small corner of France with the appearance of our grandparents' countryside... Moreover, the estate loves to host pilgrims and other visitors seeking tranquility in its small, very typical and cozy gîtes! The Fer Servadou, endemic and typical of Marcillac wine, is highlighted in all the cuvées, with a hint of Prunelard blended in here and there... The wines reflect the pure expression of the local Mansois (Fer Servadou) in different styles but always with indigenous yeasts... We feast on spicy, peppery notes, candied piquillos, peonies... It's juicy, gourmet, velvety, and with beautifully silky tannins. There's something for every pairing, aperitifs/tapas or grilled meats, with a piece of Ségala veal or a long-cooked game meat for winter evenings by the fire...
