Le Clos du Serres - Sainte-Pauline 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A long, rich finish—a perfect example.

About the estate:

Clos du Serres was established in 2006 in Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, in the foothills of the Larzac at an altitude of nearly 300 meters, by Béatrice and Sébastien Fillon. Vintage after vintage, the same systematic pursuit of authenticity is evident. The lineup has been restructured around the Maros on schist, offering a perfect balance between density and drinkability; Sainte-Pauline, on sandstone and rounded pebbles, supple and rich; Palas on sandstone and schist, vibrant and firm; and Saint-Jean, rounded and flavorful, a blend of terroirs. Humeur-vagabonde comes from a Syrah and a Carignan that few are capable of bringing to this level of charm: youthful on the palate, it doesn’t feel its 85 years. But the entire range differs only in nuances; the estate’s signature style strongly permeates all the vintages, and the originally quite powerful style evolves toward much more airy nuances—bravo! We’re adding a star this year for the consistency of their work over the years, including their white wine, which hints at Hermitage in the northern Rhône.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Between the sunshine of the Hérault and the cool air of the Aveyron, on a landscape of schist, pebbles, and red sandstone, Sébastien Fillon took over this 15-hectare estate in 2006. A chemical engineer by training, he now runs his vineyard using organic farming methods, with the help of his wife, Béatrice.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

A full-bodied, balanced, and smooth wine with a velvety texture. The tannins are already soft and rounded, though not overly powerful. “Best wine of the 2018 vintage”

About the estate:

This estate, founded in 2006 by Béatrice and Sébastien Fillon in the Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière area, in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac, covers 15 hectares and benefits from both a rich geological diversity (schist, ruffe, sandstone, and pebbles) and a significant temperature range between day and night. In the vineyard, the approach is very respectful of the grapes and the ecosystem. In the winery, built of Gard stone, wood is not permitted: the wines are vinified by plot and aged exclusively in concrete tanks. The emphasis is placed on the purest expression of the terroir and the raw material. This is evident in the wines, which are full of personality, textured, and complex.