Le Clos du Caillou - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz rouge 2023
96/100
Robert Parker
96/100
Jeb Dunnuck
95/100
RVF
95/100
Bettane & Desseauve
17/20
Jancis Robinson
94/100
Wine Spectator
93/100
Decanter
93/100
James Suckling
"An impressive vintage—a must-have for your wine cellar!"
“The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz is another remarkable wine, bursting with aromas of peonies, lilacs, black cherries, fresh thyme, and exotic spices. Medium- to full-bodied, complex, and enveloping, it offers a deeper and more powerful mid-palate than La Réserve, framed by velvety tannins that linger into a long, penetrating, and seemingly endless finish. A blend of 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Syrah, aged entirely in large used barrels, it is the most mineral-driven wine from the Vacheron winery this year.” (Wine Advocate 2025)
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Eye
A beautiful, deep red color with brilliant highlights
Nose
Elegant and with great aromatic complexity, featuring cherries, red currants, and minty notes
Palate
Well-structured, full-bodied, and round, revealing aromas of fruit soaked in brandy, white pepper, and licorice; an elegant, long, and indulgent finish
Serve
Serve at 16–17°C in a decanter while young
Drink before
2043
Food and Wine Pairings
Pairs well with braised beef cheek and pan-seared porcini mushrooms, veal sweetbreads with truffle mashed potatoes, lamb confit and pan-seared langoustine with wild garlic sauce, blue sheep’s milk cheese, and a pear-chocolate tart...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2026 guide) 95/100
Rated estate (2024 guide): 3*Stars (High-quality production that serves as a benchmark in its sector)
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 achieve 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 to reflect the character of their respective terroirs.
Decanter
Wine rated (2024 guide) 93/100
Rated estate (2022 guide) Recommended
About the wine:
The Syrah makes all the difference here, contributing notes of spice and dark fruit. It has good acidity and very fine, fairly full-bodied tannins, without being overly concentrated. This wine has good length and persistence, despite its relatively low concentration. A fresh and refreshing Châteauneuf, well-balanced even though it’s quite compact.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated Estate (2024 Guide) Award-Winning Wines (This producer's wines regularly receive awards from the guide)
About the estate:
Led by Sylvie Vacheron for over 20 years, alongside winemaker Bruno Gaspard, this organically farmed estate has 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 entirely within the Châteauneuf appellation). The 2020 acquisition of Domaine de Panisse—6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf and 5 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône—is intended to bring in the next generation: Axel and Marilou, Sylvie’s children.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2025 guide) 96/100 (Extraordinary wine)
Rated Estate (2023 Guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate)
About the wine:
The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz is another remarkable wine, bursting with aromas of peonies, lilacs, black cherries, fresh thyme, and exotic spices. Medium- to full-bodied, complex, and enveloping, it offers a deeper and more powerful mid-palate than La Réserve, framed by velvety tannins that linger into a long, penetrating, and seemingly endless finish. A blend of 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Syrah, aged entirely in large used barrels, it is the most mineral-driven wine from the Vacheron winery this year.
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
Wine rated (2026 guide) 95/100
Rated estate (2024 guide) 1*Star (Rising stars or high-quality winemakers producing wines of a good standard—you won’t be disappointed when you taste the wines from these estates)
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, Le Clos du Caillou acquired an additional 6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 7.5 hectares in Côtes du Rhône. The acquisition also includes old Cinsault vines planted in the 1950s and Grenache vines from the 1920s.
Wine Spectator
Wine rated (2026 guide) 94/100 (Exceptional wine)
About the wine:
The smooth, mature character contrasts pleasantly with a bold, full-bodied note in this flattering version. Cherry and black plum are accented with applewood smoke, ganache, and bacon. The savory, salty structure remains firm, enriched by red tea tannins that temper the full-bodied, velvety finish.
Jancis Robinson
Wine rated (2024 guide) 17/20
Rated "Recommended"
About the wine:
An intense and alluring nose of black fruit and licorice. The palate is rich and velvety, with a lovely, wild core of spices, licorice, and red fruit. The finely balanced tannins give this wine its structure. Already very appealing and alluring, it will only improve over the next decade.
Vinous
Rated winery (2023 guide) Recommended
James Suckling
Wine rated (2025 guide) 93/100
About the wine:
A bright, concentrated, and vibrant red with aromas of red currants, grilled meat, dry earth, and warm spices. It is full-bodied with finely grained tannins. Well-structured, with a silky mid-palate, a soft berry character, and hints of spices and dried herbs in the intense finish. Enjoy now or celller.
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine rated (2025 guide) 96/100
Rated winery (2023 guide) Recommended
About the wine:
Candied black cherries, roasted garrigue, spices, and notes of freshly cut flowers and roses characterize the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz, composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, grown on 50% rounded pebbles and 50% sandy “Safre” soils in the Les Cassanets vineyard, fully destemmed and aged 80% in demi-muids and 20% in neutral barrels. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied and elegant, with ultra-fine tannins, a harmonious, complex, and elegant palate, and refined tannins. It is impeccably crafted, very clean and pure, with a lovely, lingering finish.
About the estate:
The Vacheron family, Bruno Gaspard, and consultant Philippe Cambie continue to work their magic at this modestly sized vineyard located on the eastern edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They produce a wide range of wines, all remarkable, with their two flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, the Quartz and La Réserve, bordering on perfection in just about every vintage.
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