Le Clos du Caillou - Côtes-du-Rhône La Réserve rouge 2020
92-94/100
Robert Parker
91-93/100
Jeb Dunnuck
"The jewel of the estate"
“This is a beautifully crafted Côtes-du-Rhône!” ( Jeb Dunnuck, 2022) The estate’s top Côtes-du-Rhône cuvée, reminiscent of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape designed for long-term aging, is enjoyable to drink now for its fruitiness but can be cellared for about twenty years.
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Eye
China ink color, with shimmering purple highlights
Nose
Delicate, with aromas of licorice, red berry liqueur, and Sichuan pepper
Palate
Elegant, smooth, and very velvety. Fine, well-integrated tannins, with notes of sweet spices and chocolate. Beautiful brilliance and dense body. Guaranteed to age for 15 years.
Serve
Decant at 16-17°C
Drink before
2035-2040
Food and Wine Pairings
Pairs well with lamb saddle, suckling pig, veal sweetbreads, whole pigeon roasted on a spit, lentil stew with Auvergne bacon…
Bettane & Desseauve
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, full-bodied wines that offer a long finish. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines have joined the very select circle of the appellation’s finest wines and are crafted to reflect the character of their terroir.
Decanter
Rated winery (2022 guide) Recommended
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 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.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2022 guide) 92–94/100 (Outstanding wine)
Rated Estate (2023 Guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the wine:
The 2020 Côtes du Rhône La Réserve is every bit as good as many Châteauneuf wines. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre, it offers aromas of rose petals, black tea, black cherries, and red raspberries. Full-bodied, generous, and rich, it finishes with a long, silky 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
Rated Estate (2024 Guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or high-quality winemakers producing wines of a high 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, 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
Rated "Recommended"
Vinous
Rated Estate (2023 Guide) Recommended
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine rated (2022 guide) 91-93/100
Rated Estate (2023 Guide) Recommended
About the wine:
This is a beautifully crafted Côtes du Rhône!
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.
Customer Rating
5/5
based on 2 reviews
Review by Mr. ANTHONY G. Published on September 19, 2023
A wine to open ahead of time. A full-bodied and complex palate with aromas of garrigue. Can be cellared for a few more years.
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Review by Mr. MICHEL L. Published on June 14, 2023
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