Le Clos du Caillou - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres rouge 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Sylvie Vacheron, recently joined by her daughter Marilou, relies on a vineyard in the northeast of the appellation, part of which produces excellent Côtes-du-Rhône, very close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These reach a very high level of expression, with skilfully elevated, long finish. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines have joined the very select circle of the appellation's finest wines, and are declined according to the nature of their terroir.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A predominance of Grenache (85%) from the cru's most famous sandy terroirs has produced this highly expressive red, with enticing aromas of wild strawberry, myrtle and wild thyme. A palette that irrigates a tender, silky palate with enveloping woodiness, gently accompanied by chalky tannins of great finesse. An archetypal great saffron wine.

About the domain :

Managed by Sylvie Vacheron for over 20 years, in duo with oenologist Bruno Gaspard, this organic estate boasts 54 ha of vineyards, including 9 ha in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 44 ha in Côtes-du-Rhône (part of which, Le Clos, is enclosed within the Châteauneuf appellation area). The acquisition in 2020 of Dom. de Panisse, 6.5 ha in Châteauneuf and 5 ha in Côtes-du-Rhône, aims to install the new generation: Axel and Marilou, Sylvie's children.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Delicious swirls of strawberries, cherries and red raspberries mark the nose of Châteauneuf du Pape Les Safres 2022, a 90-10 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre from the sandy soils of Les Bédines. Full-bodied and silky, this vintage shows even greater than usual aromatic persistence on the finish.

About the domain :

Always one of my most eagerly awaited visits, Le Clos du Caillou continues to produce produce some of the finest, most consistent Châteauneuf, 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 wine:

The nose is precise and open, with cherry, sugar strawberry and floral notes. A seductive register of finesse and complexity. Full-bodied on the palate, with the generosity of the vintage. The touch is good, with all the grace and velvetiness of Grenache. The tannins are well-managed and the whole seduces with its finesse.

About the domain :

Clos du Caillou, a 53-hectare estate 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 the wines towards greater finesse and depth. With the addition of Château de Panisse in 2020, Clos du Caillou has acquired a further 6.5 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 7.5 in Côtes du Rhône. Old Cinsault vines planted in the 1950s and Grenache vines from the 1920s are also included.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous A. Galloni

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Safres 2022 shows more morello cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry notes, as well as increased richness and depth. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with the homogenous, layered and incredibly elegant profile that always characterizes this cuvée. It's already almost impossible to resist this wine, but it will have another 10-15 years to drink.

About the domain :

The Vacheron family, Bruno Gaspard, and consultant Philippe Cambie continue to work their magic at this modest estate on the eastern edge of Châteauneuf du Pape. They produce a host of cuvées, all of them remarkable, with their two Châteauneuf du Pape flagships, Quartz and La Réserve, flirting with perfection in just about every vintage.