Wine Advocate: 97+ Points
Another strong contender for the wine of the vintage the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Réserve is a monument in the making. Revealing a deep concentrated bouquet of dark cherries violet lilac flowers and Indian spices it's full-bodied dense and deep with structured refined tannins and a fleshy core of rich vibrant fruit all leading to a long saline finish. Deeper and more concentrated than Les Quartz it is composed of 60% Grenache Noir and 40% Mourvèdre handpicked on October 15th co-fermented and matured for 14 months in large barrels. The beautifully situated 44-hectare estate sitting on the northeast part of the appellation in the commune of Courthezon and close to Ch. Rayas continues its qualitative journey producing precise perfumed and well-structured wines since Sylvie Pouizin and Jean-Denis Vacheron took over. After Jean-Denis?s accidental death in 2022 Sylvie brought on technical manager Bruno Gaspard who has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the estate. Certified in organic viticulture since 2010 the vineyard is planted with a combination of authorized grape varieties all thriving in sandy sandstone soils that contribute to the wines? elegance and finesse. Joined by her daughter Marilou and son Axel Sylvie Pouizin-Vacheron (and her family) expanded their holdings by acquiring Domaine de Panisse a 13.3-hectare estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Despite the inevitable changes brought by the different generations Le Clos du Caillou has consistently produced wines of finesse and complexity closely aligned with consumer preferences while maintaining their intensity and distinct personality. In my opinion some of the best Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are crafted here. Published: Sep 26 2024 As at most properties the 2022s possess an extra level of richness and ripeness. "From January to August 2022 we had no rain" said Gaspard. "But even vines on sandy soils didn't suffer." Then a major storm on August 14?the same one that devastated much of la Crau?helped push the grapes through their final ripening. "For our terroir when we have rain in August it's really good" he said. "The vines take what they need and the rest [of the water] drains away." While the stars of the show here are the 2022s the 2021s are striking for their purity and complexity. The 2020s are another strong vintage so if consumers happen across them on store shelves there's no reason to hesitate. Published: Sep 29 2023
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