Xavier Weisskopf established Domaine Rocher des Violettes in 2005. He was born in the Oise region in 1979 and trained as a winegrower in Chablis. He continued his apprenticeship in Beaune where he became cellar master at Gigondas before creating his own property. His vineyard parcels are dotted around the commune of Saint-Martin-Le-Beau with 9 hectares in Montlouis and 4 hectares in the Touraine AOP. The vines are mature in age and Xavier Weisskopf does not use chemical fertilisers or products. Harvests are carried out by hand and every effort is made to limit oxidation and to preserve the wines’ integrity. If you have not already done so, it is well worth trying these wines which are currently superb.

This wine is known in the Loire Valley as a Cot but is actually produced from the Malbec variety. The vines, which vary in age from 5 to 129 years old, are spread throughout many parcels in
Chesnay, Bel’Air, La Rochère, Grand Poirier and Les Borderies and thrive on the clay-limestone rich soil. The grapes are harvested by hand with two-thirds of the harvest being fermented in whole bunches and the rest being destemmed before macerating for 3 weeks. The grapes from each of the plots are pressed and vinified separately using indigenous yeast and are then aged for a year in tanks and 500-litre barrels in the domain’s troglodyte cellars, which are carved out of the local tufa stone. The year-round temperature of the cellar is between 13 and 14 degrees, which provides an optimal condition for ageing wines.
The Cot is a Malbec in its original form, with its dark colour and aromas of plums, spices and hints of herbs. It coats the palette with structured tannins and is juicy and fresh with an aromatic and charming taste. Best enjoyed after a few years in the cellar.