Guide
to the Loire regions
Côte
Roannaise
Grower
Profiles
Le
Clos Saint-Jean / Domaine de la Madeleine
In 1994, father Joël decided to change his career from
raising unprofitable Charolais beef cattle and invest instead in his
passion for wine by acquiring Combe, an old smallholding in the hills
above Saint-Martin. He was joined by his son, Richard, a banker by
training, but who was at that time tending goat herds in the Aveyron. By
combining their respective passion and talent, they would be able to
provide an initial income from the diary, with the goats providing organic
manure for the vines. In January 2003, the two were joined by Frédéric,
Joël’s younger son, who had previously been a hairdresser. In the same
year, Joël invited his friend Jean-Louis Callier, to invest and together
they planted a separate 4.25 hectare vineyard, Le Clos de la Chapelle. By
the end of 2003, they were the only certified organic producer in the
appellation.
From Combe, there are commanding views down over the plain towards the
Villerest dam and beyond. To capitalise on this, the Lapalue’s have
established a modest auberge which is open at weekends and a shop where
one can enjoy the domains wines and fromage
de brebis from their 60 Lacaune goats.
There are now a total of 12 hectares under vine here, with a further 2
hectares rented in Villemontais. Whilst the majority of the vineyards are
planted to Gamay Saint-Romain, they also have 1.5 hectares of Chardonnay
which will come into production in 2009.
WINE
OVERVIEW:
An old barn was partly restored in order to accommodate
the winery. The wines are fermented in a combination of cement, enamelled
steel and stainless steel tanks. The grapes are destemmed and passed
through a thermovinification machine before undergoing a four day
pre-fermentation maceration. Only indigenous yeasts are used, and there is
no chaptalisation. The wines are bottled unfiltered.
THE WINES:
The two brothers operate two separate labels, with
Richard and his father selling their wine as Domaine de la Madeleine
(although they only elect to make rosé), whilst Frédéric sells his
wines under Le Clos Saint-Jean. His red wines are kept back a year before
release.
Joël
& Richard Lapalue
Domaine de la Madeleine
Combe
Saint-Jean Saint Maurice
T: + 33 6 81 20 47 25 (Auberge)
F: + 33 4 77 63 33 90
P: + 33 6 81 20 47 25 (Joël)
P: + 33 4 25 85 11 01 (Richard)
Frédéric
Lapalue
Combe
Le Clos Saint-Jean
Saint-Jean Saint-Maurice
P: + 33 6 88 45 70 86
clossaintjean@wanadoo.fr
www.leclossaintjean.fr
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