Lot presentation

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Le Clos du Caillou Réserve Sylvie Vacheron 2011

The wine

This organically-certified cuvée is a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre grapes grown in sandy soils that give the wine extra refinement and freshness. Both are vinified together in a tapered wooden tank used 8 times before. The wine is then matured for 18 months in demi-muid casks. This magnificent Châteauneuf-du-Pape develops astonishing notes of licorice, pine resins and aromatic herbs. The palate is extremely fresh and the tannins are mellow, lending a mild aspect to this already highly refined wine. Its gourmet flavours are reminiscent of stewed or even jammy fruit. It is a wine of great complexity that should be enjoyed with a cottage pie and truffles.

About the Producer Clos du Caillou

Sylvie Vacheron manages Le Clos du Caillou with an expert hand. The vineyard was indeed once a clos, or walled plot, of 17 hectares but today the vines are planted across 53 hectares in the Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellations. The terroir is of a very high quality, primarily comprising sand and galets roulés with excellent filtering properties. Sylvie Vacheron runs the vineyard and cultivates it with loving care. The soil is enriched with organic compost, the plots are tilled regularly, herbicides are avoided completely and harvesting is manual. Sylvie's determination has paid off as this is now one of the top domains in the appellation.