Le Clos du Caillou - Côtes-du-Rhône Les Quartz rouge 2023

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:

The 2023 Côtes du Rhône Les Quartz is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, grown on quartz-rich sandy soils just outside the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. It reveals aromas of ripe red fruit, licorice, crushed herbs, violets, and warm stones. Medium- to full-bodied, it is supple and complex, with a fleshy, fruity core framed by fine tannins and lively acidity. More structured and serious than Le Bouquet des Garrigues, it is a concentrated yet balanced wine that will improve after 6 to 10 years of cellaring.

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.

Wine Spectator

About the wine:

This delightfully complex expression features rich, meaty notes, with a smooth blend of salted plum and juniper, accompanied by hints of forest floor, toasted anise, and smoked bacon, as well as a touch of tar. Distinctive mineral notes and a briny quality unfold from the opening through to the silky finish.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of cherry, plum, wild herbs, exotic spices, and warm stone carry through to a lively, medium-bodied palate with silky tannins. Bright and juicy with a vibrant finish. Made from organically grown grapes. Enjoy now or celller.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Deeper and richer than the Bouquet des Garrigues, the 2023 Côtes du Rhône Les Quartz offers aromas of black cherries, red plums, floral incense, and pepper in a beautifully expressive style. It is medium-bodied and well-balanced, with a supple, smooth, and elegant palate and fine tannins that integrate beautifully.

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.