2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Réserve, Le Clos Du Caillou

Deep garnet in the glass, this is Châteauneuf at its most refined, powerful yet poised, confident without excess. The nose unfolds in layers of black cherry, plum and dried fig, with undertones of violet, thyme, cocoa and warm spice. On the palate, it’s seamless and structured with ripe fruit wrapped in fine-grained tannins, balanced by mineral freshness and a graceful, lingering finish. There’s intensity here, but also restraint, the calm assurance of a great terroir speaking softly.

For when: the candles are low, the food’s slow, and conversation lingers.
Pairs with: roast lamb, game birds, or truffled mushrooms.
If this wine were a person, it’d be quietly charismatic - never loud, always unforgettable.

‘La Réserve’ is the flagship cuvée of Le Clos du Caillou, blending old-vine Grenache (55%) and Mourvèdre (45%) from sandy, galet-strewn parcels that border Rayas and La Crau, two of Châteauneuf’s most revered sites. Certified biodynamic, the vineyards yield fruit of remarkable purity and lift, fermented with native yeasts and aged in large foudre and demi-muids for nuance and texture.

The 2021 vintage, cooler and more classical than recent years, highlights finesse over power, a wine of aromatic precision, silken depth and effortless length. A quiet masterpiece from one of the Rhône’s most soulful estates.