Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2021

80% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, yielding only 18 hl/ha, from 60 year-old vines in the lieu-dit of Les Cassenets which adjoins Le Caillou to the south. Hand-picked and hand-sorted, 100% destemmed then natural-yeast co-fermented in tronconique wooden casks. Cuvaison lasts 34 days with extraction via plunging and delestage (rack and return). Matured for 15 months in 80% old demi-muids (600 L) for the Grenache and 20% old barriques for the Syrah.

‘Perhaps a bit less expansive than some other vintages, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz is still a terrific effort. Scents of crushed stone and crystalized red berries appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is more linear and crisp. Some readers may even prefer this style of vintage for its focus and restraint.’ 93+ points, The Wine Advocate, September 2023.