Le Clos du Caillou - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres rouge 2023

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Sylvie Vacheron, recently joined by her daughter Marilou, draws on a vineyard located in the northeastern part of the appellation, part of which produces excellent Côtes-du-Rhône wines, very close to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards. These wines reach a very high level of expression, with skillfully aged, long-finishing profiles. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines have joined the very select circle of the appellation’s finest wines and are produced according to the nature of their terroir.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Run by Sylvie Vacheron for over 20 years, alongside oenologist Bruno Gaspard, this organic estate comprises 54 hectares of vineyards, including 9 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 44 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône (part of which, Le Clos, is located within the Châteauneuf appellation). The 2020 acquisition of Dom. de Panisse—6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf and 5 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône—aims to bring in the next generation: Axel and Marilou, Sylvie’s children.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Slightly spicier, with an aroma featuring notes of licorice, black berries, cherries, and blackberries, the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres is beautifully well-rounded. Medium- to full-bodied, lively, and complex, it offers a fleshy, enveloping fruit core framed by velvety tannins, and finishes with a long, ethereal, and fragrant aftertaste. More approachable in its youth than its siblings, this blend of 90% Grenache Noir and 10% Mourvèdre is a resounding success.

About the estate:

Always one of my most eagerly anticipated visits, Le Clos du Caillou continues to produce some of the finest, most consistent Châteauneufs, year after year. Marilou Vacheron and Bruno Gaspard are generally candid in their assessments of the vintages.

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

About the wine:

The 2023 vintage is fragrant with wild strawberries and flowers. The palate is in perfect harmony: its juice reflects the finesse of the vintage and reveals a radiant fruitiness, though it lacks just a touch of depth.

About the estate:

Le Clos du Caillou, a 53-hectare estate located in the town of Courthézon, has been certified organic since 2010. Sylvie Vacheron and her children, Marilou and Axel, who recently returned to the estate, have guided the wines toward greater finesse and depth. Along with Château de Panisse in 2020, Clos du Caillou acquired an additional 6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 7.5 hectares in Côtes du Rhône. Old Cinsault vines planted in the 1950s and Grenache vines from the 1920s are also part of the acquisition.

Wine Spectator

About the wine:

Elegant and refined, with notes of crisp red fruit and incense, enhanced by hints of blood and smoked meat. Aromas of mesquite smoke fill the medium-bodied palate, balanced by refined tannins. Spicy and herbaceous notes add depth, offering a lively and energetic finish with great maturity. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Enjoy now through 2038.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

An enticing nose blending notes of blueberry and licorice. The palate is structured and silky, with spices and well-balanced oak that adds depth to the mid-palate. Very fine, well-balanced tannins lend structure and tension to the fruit core. Very well-balanced.

Vinous

About the wine:

With its red fruit and spicy notes, the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres offers lovely floral hints of rose petals and crushed violets. Remarkably fresh, the 2023 vintage is full-bodied and velvety, displaying perfect balance and lingering on a seductive finish.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A delicious red wine with aromas of cherry, blood orange, toasted herbs, and warm spices. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, with fine, firm tannins. Well-structured, nuanced, and concentrated, with an alluring texture and plenty of energy. A long, brilliant, and flavorful finish. Made from organically grown grapes. Enjoy now or celller.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Hailing from the same terroir as Les Quartz, the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres is composed of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre from the sandy soils of Safre, in the Bédines region. It is fully destemmed and aged for 14 months in large oak casks. Aromas of ripe red fruit, crushed stone, flowers, and subtle spices shine through the bouquet. It is medium-bodied, with a pure, concentrated, and elegant palate, and exceptional length. I love its overall balance, which perfectly reflects the estate’s current style: frank, clean, and technical. Approximately 1,916 cases were produced. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2038.

About the estate:

The Vacheron family, Bruno Gaspard, and consultant Philippe Cambie continue to work their magic at this modestly sized estate located on the eastern edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They produce a host of cuvées, all remarkable, with their two flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, Le Quartz and La Réserve, bordering on perfection in just about every vintage.