Lot presentation

Vin de France Clos Joliette 2013

The wine

Although it has been made as a dry wine, in some ways the Petit and Gros Manseng in this cuvée display the aromatic complexity of a sweet wine, with notes of sweet spice, candied fruits and honey, invigorating freshness, and aromatic persistence. The property cultivates its grapes organically and ferments them naturally in 400-litre barriques. The wine is then matured on its fine lees for nine months in barriques and three months in stainless steel. It has ageing potential of a good 15 years.

About the Producer Clos Joliette

Le Clos Joliette is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the village of Jurançon itself. The single parcel of 1.85 hectares was planted in 1929 on clay-limestone soil. Yields are astonishingly low, and therefore the production of 1500 bottles isn't commercialised. And yet – or perhaps precisely for this reason – its presence is immense. Unaffected by the passing of time or commercial logic, the owners have always wanted to hide behind this unique terroir. The vines of Petit Manseng were planted in 1929. The southeast- facing parcel is exposed to the sun with a soil of “Jurançon puddingstones”: stones on the ground which increase the temperature during the day and allow rain water to drain. This micro-climate yields overripe grapes, which are left to dry on the vines. The grapes are dried by both the sun and the wind, before being picked by hand between November and December with successive selections.