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 northeast of the appellation, part of which produces excellent Côtes-du-Rhône wines, very close to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroirs. These wines achieve a very high level of expression, with skillfully aged and long-lasting flavors. 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 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 enclosed within the Châteauneuf appellation area). The 2020 acquisition of Dom. de Panisse, with 6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf and 5 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône, aims to establish the new generation: Axel and Marilou, Sylvie's children.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

The Côtes du Rhône Les Quartz 2023 is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, grown on sandy soils rich in quartz 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, this is a concentrated but balanced wine that will improve after 6 to 10 years in the cellar.

About the estate:

Always one of my most eagerly anticipated visits, Le Clos du Caillou continues to produce some of the finest, most consistent Châteauneuf wines, year after year. Marilou Vacheron and Bruno Gaspard are generally frank in their assessments of the vintages.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Clos du Caillou, a 53-hectare estate located in the commune of Courthézon, has been certified organic since 2010. Sylvie Vacheron and her children, Marilou and Axel, who recently returned to the property, have developed wines with greater finesse and depth. With the acquisition of Château de Panisse in 2020, Clos du Caillou gained 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 lot.

Wine Spectator

About wine:

This pleasantly complex version presents animal and fleshy notes, with a smooth blend of salted plum and juniper, accompanied by notes of undergrowth, toasted anise, and smoked bacon, as well as a hint of tar. Racial mineral notes and salty energy unfold from the beginning to the silky finish.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

James Suckling

About wine:

Aromas of cherry, plum, wild herbs, exotic spices, and warm stones linger on the palate, which is lively and medium-bodied with silky tannins. Bright and juicy with a vibrant finish. Made from organically grown grapes. Enjoy now or cellar.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Deeper and richer than the Bouquet des Garrigues, the Côtes Du Rhône Les Quartz 2023 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 in this modestly sized estate located on the eastern edge of Châteauneuf du Pape. They produce a host of remarkable wines, with their two flagship Châteauneuf du Pape wines, Le Quartz and La Réserve, flirting with perfection in almost every vintage.