2012 Le Caillou
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Tasting notes
(60% clairette rose and 40% grenache blanc): Pale yellow. High-pitched citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of jasmine, honey and chalky minerals. Dry, tightly wound orange and pear flavors pick up a bitter quinine nuance with air and show a zesty spine of acidity. Finishes on a juicy note, with good energy and repeating florality.
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
100% Clairette Rose. Interesting grape variety! Not that high in acidity but an unusual wine. Very full bodied. A wine for grape nerds? Light whiff of smoke on the end with a hint of cheesiness. The merest hint of roses? A little chewy on the end. (JR)
Possessing beautiful mid-palate richness and sweet tannin, they should not be missed. Starting out, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Le Caillou is a blend of 95% Grenache that comes from declassified lots of the Bouquet des Garrigue bottling. Completely destemmed and with a small amount of carbonic maceration, it has pretty berry, licorice and herb aromas and flavors to go with a lively, elegant and decidedly fresh palate. Straight-up delicious, enjoy it over the coming couple of years. Drink now-2016. Located in the northeastern part of Chateauneuf du Pape, and covering 22 acres in the appellation and 110 acres in Cotes du Rhone (most of which are situated around the estate and bordering Chateauneuf du Pape), this benchmark estate is run by Sylvie Vacheron, with Bruno Gaspard assisted by Aude Perch and oenologist Philippe Cambie making the wines. The winemaking here is mostly traditional, yet spans the spectrum with some of their top wines seeing time in some new barrels. While the wines emphasize fruit and texture, they never lose their Southern Rhone souls and age beautifully. The vineyards have been farmed biodynamically since 2003, and the estate was certified Organic in 2010. This is an absolutely stunning set of wines by this team. Moving to the reds, both 2011 and 2012 are very strong here, with the 2011s easily being some of the finest wines in the vintage. Looking at the Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz cuvee, which, like the Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz, comes mostly from the rolled pebble soils the region is known for. It is normally a blend of 85% foudre-aged Grenache and 15% barrel-aged Syrah. Compared to the Les Safres, this cuvee is normally more concentrated and structured, with big fruit and an exuberant personality. The most modern-styled of the lineup and coming all from sandy soils (Pignan and Guigasse lieux-dits) and seeing a touch of new demi-muid, the Reserve le Clos du Caillou is always a blend of roughly 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre. Importers: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910; Dionysos Imports, Manassas, VA; tel. (703) 392-7073; Import Wines, Middleton, WI; tel. (608) 833-8622; and Domaine Select Wine Estates, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799
Smoky, perfumed and off dry. Good personality even if not thrilling. Proper wine. (JR)