Le Clos du Caillou - Côtes-du-Rhône La Réserve 2019

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:

I detected a hint of oak on the nose of the 2019 Côtes-du-Rhône La Réserve, a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre aged in demi-muids. Vanilla and dried spices provide a perfect complement to the vibrant black cherries in this full-bodied wine. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, with a long, velvety finish, it should be a top-class wine upon its release.

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

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The flagship Côtes du Rhône from this estate, La Réserve 2019 is undoubtedly the greatest, richest, and most impressive Côtes du Rhône on the list. Displaying a deep purple color and a rich, powerful bouquet of smoky red and black fruits, peppery herbs, crushed stone, and abundant Provençal garrigue, the attack on the palate is rich with a medium to full body, the mid-palate is deep and multi-layered, and the finish is superb. Two to three years of bottle aging will benefit this concentrated 2019 Provençal wine, which will age gracefully for over a decade.

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.