Le Clos du Caillou - Côtes-du-Rhône Le Bouquet des Garrigues 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

About wine:

Produced from 50-year-old vines located on the outskirts of Châteauneuf, this evocatively named wine is a perfect example of the elegance of Côtes-du-Rhône. Aromas of crushed berries and dried herbs give way to savory notes of wild blackberries, spicy plums, and a hint of dark chocolate on the finish. Generous yet skillfully controlled, it offers everything one would expect from an accessible and refined Rhône red wine.

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:

Le Bouquet des Garrigues 2023 is a serious and expressive Côtes du Rhône, bursting with aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, licorice, garrigue, and crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied, supple and complex, it is built around a core of vibrant fruit, framed by fine, chalky tannins and lively underlying acidity. Grown on sandy soils adjacent to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, this wine offers a degree of refinement and depth that transcends its classification. It will drink well upon release, but will also benefit from cellaring for 5 to 8 years.

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.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Made primarily from Grenache, but also featuring many other grape varieties, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Bouquet Des Garrigues is another juicy, vibrant, and satisfying Côtes Du Rhône from this family. Black cherry, black pepper, and leather notes shine through here, and the wine is medium-bodied, well-balanced, and delicious.

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.