Le Clos du Caillou Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2012 "Starting out with the whites, and made from mostly Pink Clairette, blended with 30% Grenache Blanc, the 2012 Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc is a pretty, delicious effort that has solid purity, medium-bodied richness and a clean, classy, quaffable profile. White peach, citrus blossom and melon are just some of the notes that emerge here, and it should dish out plenty of pleasure . . ." ~ Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Les Safres 2013
"Also first rate and comprised of 50% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc and 25% Clairette (white), fermented and aged in older barrel, the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Les Safres offers up classy aromas and flavors of poached pears, caramelized peach, cream and toast. This medium to full-bodied, rich and textured effort has terrific purity and fresh, integrated acidity." ~ 92, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Le Clos du Caillou Côtes-du-Rhône Bouquet des Garrigues 2012
"The 2012 Côtes-du-Rhône Bouquet des Garrigues tastes like a mini Châteauneuf with its big minerality, darker fruits and crushed flowers, full-bodied richness and superb texture. It’s a knockout Côtes-du-Rhône that should represent a superb value. Buy it by the case . . ." ~ 90, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Clos du Mont-Olivet Côtes-du-Rhône Vieilles Vignes 2012
"An old-school, age-worthy Côtes-du-Rhône, the 2012 Vieilles Vignes has impressive lavender, licorice, wild herbs and darker berry fruits to go with a medium-bodied, focused, tannic palate. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Carignan brought up mostly in tank . . ." ~ Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres 2012
"Vivid ruby-red. Exotically perfumed scents of raspberry liqueur, potpourri and Asian spices, with a zesty mineral nuance adding lift. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sweet red fruit flavors that expand and deepen with air. Floral pastille and spicecake notes add complexity to the very long finish, which features gently gripping tannins." ~ 93, Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet 2012
"Much more concentrated than the traditional cuvée, the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, from the Montalivet, La Crau, Palestor, Bois Dauphin lieux-dits, that was aged 85% in foudre and 15% in demi-muids and small barrels. Its deep purple color is followed by fabulous notes of black raspberry, currants, crushed rock and peppery herbs. This flows to a medium to full-bodied, structured and classically put together Châteauneuf that has fresh acidity and no shortage of tannin." ~ 94, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2012
"The 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz is one of the more powerful, structured 2012s and exhibits wonderful black raspberry, creamy licorice, smoked earth and crushed rock/liquid minerality. Medium to full-bodied and classically styled on the palate, with a broad, expansive feel, it has sweet fruit, plenty of tannin and beautiful length." ~ 94, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2012
"Lastly, the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Le Clos du Caillou is a classic example of this cuvée. Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, aged all in demi-muid, it offers ample dark fruits, chocolate, bouquet garni and licorice in its full-bodied, supple, forward and elegantly styled profile. As with all of the 2012s here, the tannin is wonderfully ripe, the wine has solid concentration and everything is perfectly balanced . . . . it’s hard to resist already . . ." ~ 95, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate |
