Le Clos du Caillou - Côtes-du-Rhône Les Quartz 2018

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 more powerful and structured than the Garrigues cuvée, the 2018 Les Quartz features notes of bay leaf and violet that accentuate hints of cherry and leather. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with silky tannins, this blend of Grenache and Syrah finishes with a long, flavorful aftertaste.

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 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.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

James Suckling

About the wine:

The nose offers a spicy, modern character, with fresh oak spices that add complexity to notes of blackberries and black plums. On the palate, it feels soft, full-bodied, and grainy, with plenty of juicy tannins. Made from organically grown grapes.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The Les Quartz cuvée raises the bar for Côtes du Rhône quality with this 2018 vintage. An incredible wine made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah sourced from vineyards surrounding the estate in the eastern sector of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Bright ruby red, with a superb bouquet of kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, Provençal garrigue, and Asian spices, it strikes the palate with medium to full-bodied intensity, featuring the fluid and elegant character typical of this vintage, and a beautiful finish. This wine would easily pass in a blind tasting of top Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Enjoy the bottles over the next 5 to 7 years.

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.