Le Clos du Caillou - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres blanc 2025

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, full-bodied, and long-finishing wines. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines have joined the very exclusive circle of the appellation’s finest wines and are crafted to reflect the character of their terroir.

Lemon, apricot, and rhubarb, with white spices and pronounced woody notes. Concentrated and fresh on the palate, with lively acidity and a taut structure. Sufficient fruit intensity to harmonize with the oak over time.

Les Safres: a Provençal name for the compacted Miocene sands that cover the northeastern part of the vineyard. These sands have produced a pale white wine with dense tears, opening with an intoxicating bouquet of apricot enhanced by elegant oak notes of almond and brown butter. Equally generously fragrant, the palate reveals a full-bodied, velvety texture, punctuated by an elegant bitterness with hints of green anise. A well-rounded, incredibly charming wine that will gain even more complexity with age.

Led by Sylvie Vacheron for over 20 years, alongside oenologist 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.

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.

The 2025 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres showcases the nobility of its pedigree with a beautiful structure, but its very slightly milky fruit and aging process temper the expression of the terroir.

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.

The 2025 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Les Safres, a blend of equal parts Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Clairette, offers aromas of linden blossom, honeysuckle, lemon pulp, and yellow apple. Medium- to full-bodied, lively, and remarkably agile, the 2025 moves across the palate with tension, finishing with a long and vibrant aftertaste.

Made from old vines planted in the sandy soils of the Les Bédines vineyard, the 2025 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres Blanc is a blend of 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, and 30% Clairette. It has a medium-gold color and reveals a remarkable aromatic bouquet of honeyed peach, exotic stone fruits, floral notes, orange blossom, and mint, with aromas that come through with great intensity right from the first sniff. Fermented and aged for five months on lees, 80% in new barrels, it offers a medium-bodied palate that is both concentrated and complex, with well-integrated acidity and a beautiful finish. Magnificently crafted, this white wine is simply superb. It can be enjoyed at any time over the next decade, and it is already particularly appealing today. Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2036.

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.