Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc 'Les Safres' Clos du Caillou 2023

Clos du Caillou, Châteauneuf du Pape

Sylvie Vacheron, helped by the gifted Bruno Gaspard, is producing rich and very expressive Châteauneuf du Pape cuvées.

The quality of the estate’s wines has greatly progressed over the past couple of decades, which are now recognised among the best in the appellation. The unsung hero in Le Clos du Caillou’s portfolio is ‘Bouquet des Garrigues’: with the feel and style of a Châteauneuf du Pape, it elevates Côtes du Rhône to a new level.

The wine is sourced from sandy ‘safres’ soils—an important terroir within Châteauneuf-du-Pape known for producing wines with finesse and aromatic intensity. Vines are grown organically and biodynamically, with careful canopy management and low yields to preserve purity and concentration. The warm southern Rhône climate is moderated by the Mistral wind, which helps maintain the health and freshness of the grapes.

Hand-harvested with meticulous sorting both in the vineyard and the cellar. Whole bunches undergo gentle pneumatic pressing, followed by overnight cold settling at 10°C. Fermentation takes place in a blend of barrels—20% in first-fill and 80% in seasoned barrels (five to seven years old).

Well-balanced, round, rich and complex wines with notes of citrus (grapefruit, lemon), white-fleshed fruit (pear, peach) and exotic fruit (litchi, mango). The acidity is well-balanced, with a long, saline finish.

Grapes:40% White Grenache, 30% Roussanne, 30% Clairette

Organic