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Domaine Couly-Dutheil Winery Guide
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Last updated: January 29, 2024
Winery Overview
Few names are more respected in the Loire Wine Region than Couly-Dutheil’s. Their wines have earned them great respect and are found in leading restaurants across France and further afield! The estate’s great journey began in 1921 when Baptiste Dutheil made Chinon his home and married his cousin, Marie Couly. He started as a wine merchant and 1925, purchased his first piece of vineyard land, the Clos de l’Echoo. He replanted the vineyards and nurtured the soil to produce wines of great potential, laying the foundations for many years of excellence.
In 1928, a distant relative, Rene Couly, came to Chinon and married the daughter of Baptiste and Marie, Madeleine. Rene subsequently became the driving force in Couly-Dutheil, increasing the vineyard holdings and raising the wines’ quality. However, their children Pierre and Jacques and their sons Bertrand and Arnaud forged the estate’s reputation. Pierre and Bertrand have founded their own domaine while Couly remains in the father-and-son team’s capable hands, Jacques and Arnaud.
There are many reasons to visit this estate, not least the grand château, parts of which date back to the 10th century; it resembles an imposing Medieval Fortress. As we would expect from such a dedicated team, all the wines are uniformly superb, but the vineyard Clos del’Echoo deserves a special mention. This ancient land has a unique terroir (visited by Joan of Arc several times) that perfectly grows the Cabernet Franc varietal. It is a wine of immense concentration and power; none who taste it are left indifferent. Sample a glass of Clos de L’Echoo, and you will be converted for life, one of the world’s most unique and spellbinding wines!
Wines produced
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Rosé René Couly
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel and bottled 6 months after the harvest -
Les Chanteaux
100% Chenin Blanc. Fermented in stainless steel and left on its lees for 5 months to add richness -
Les Gravières
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel -
Coulée Automnale
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel -
Diligence
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Bottled 12 months after bottling -
Domaine René Couly
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Matured for 12 months in New Oak barrels -
Baronnie Madeleine
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Bottled 6 months after harvest -
Le Clos de l'Echo
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Produced from old vines, some 75 years old. Wine aged for 12 months in stainless steel -
Le Clos de l'Olive
100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Produced from old vines, some 100 years old. Matured for 24 months in New Oak barrels -
Crescendo 100%
Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel. Matured for 24 months in New Oak barrels
Winery Contact Details
Domaine Couly-Dutheil
12 Rue Diderot37500 Chinon
France
Email: [email protected]
Tel +33 (0) 02 47 97 20 20
Fax +33 (0) 02 47 97 20 25 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
Chinon
Founded
1921
Area under Vine
130 Hectares
Age of vines
30 years+
Oak barrel origin
French
Winemaker
Jacques Couly
Owner
René Couly
Production
100 000 cases per annum
Grape varietals
Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Chenin Blanc
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Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc grape is a close relative of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is the principal blending grape used in Bordeaux.
Find out more
Winery Appellations
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Explore the diverse and luxurious Loire Valley, a hidden gem for wine lovers. From fresh Sauvignon Blancs to robust Cabernet Francs. Plan your trip today! Read more
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