Clos Saint Sébastien - Collioure Empreintes rouge 2023

Recently taken over, this estate covers about 20 hectares and presents itself as very modern, both in its winemaking and its marketing approach, with “inspired” label designs and, above all, a boutique-bistro on the port of Banyuls where visitors can sample the wines in their natural setting. Nestled in the heart of the Roume Valley, the winery receives grapes from seven plots spread across different terroirs within the appellation, allowing the winemaker to capitalize on their complementary characteristics during vinification. While their marketing is very savvy, in the vineyard, traditional cultivation methods are preserved, with the vines primarily trained using the gobelet or échalas systems.

Jacques Piriou and Romuald Peronne—the winemaker—joined forces to purchase Dom. Saint-Sébastien in 2008, which was renamed Clos Saint-Sébastien in 2014 following the acquisition of Clos Xatard. They made a grand entrance into the Guide with their Collioure wines. In Banyuls, they run a terrace restaurant overlooking the harbor, Le Jardin de Saint-Sébastien, and offer a boat tour to explore their 20 hectares of terraced vineyards from the sea. Their wine list features exclusively Collioure and Banyuls wines.

We love the simple elegance of Empreintes.

A textured, fruity, and chalky red wine with notes of berries, dried thyme, bay leaves, roasted meat, and baking spices. It is medium-bodied, with powdery tannins. It displays a juicy, fruity character on the mid-palate and evolves into a more serious, velvety finish. Ready to drink now or suitable for aging.