Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2023

80 % Grenache Noir, 20 % Syrah, yielding only 23 hl/ha, from 70 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 lasted 38 days with extraction via pump-over, plunging and delestage (rack and return). Matured for 14 months in 80 % old demi-muids (600 L) for the Grenache and 20 % old barriques for the Syrah.

'The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz is another standout, bursting with aromas of peonies, lilac, dark cherries, fresh thyme and exotic spices. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it offers a deeper, more powerful mid-palate than La Réserve, framed by velvety tannins that carry through to a long, penetrating and seemingly endless finish. A blend of 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Syrah, matured entirely in large and used barrels, this is the most mineral expression in the Vacheron cellar this year.’ 96 points, Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate, October 2025.

'A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah from the Les Cassanets lieu-dit and all destemmed, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz is deep ruby-hued and offers a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, peppery garrigue, violets, and flowers. I love its complexity, and it's medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity, and beautiful tannins.’ (94-96) points, Jeb Dunnuck, October 2024.

Le Clos du Caillou

The Vacheron family at Le Clos du Caillou turn out a long list of stellar wines in almost every vintage. Their several Côtes du Rhône bottlings often rival or surpass lesser producer's Châteauneufs, and those wines (and the family’s Châteauneufs) authentically reflect their various terroirs, making the domaine’s cellars a learning experience every visit.

Clos du Caillou’s Chateauneuf vineyards are producing some of the most highly regarded and rated Chateauneuf du Papes today including the Quartz and La Reserve cuvees which come from vineyards adjoining the 'Clos' of Clos du Caillou where much of their best Côtes du Rhône originates from. The Chateauneuf lieu-dits that the estate owns vines in are all very close to the estate and winery: Pignan, Guigasse, Les Bedines, Les Cassanets and Coudoulet.

“They produce poised and silky wines of supreme finesse.”
Matt Walls, Wine of the Rhone, 2021.

These are all lieu-dits with higher elevation than most and more trees and wood lands surrounding.

Organic viticulture began in the 1950s and the estate was certified in 2009. Now much of the estate has been farmed biodynamically for almost 20 years. The vines planted in the 1950s and 1960s now have excellent age and the children of Sylvie are in the process of taking over the running of the estate, working with Bruno Gaspard who has been overseeing the winemaking since 2002. The cellars are deep and very cool and enable perfect ageing in an assortment of large foudres, demi-muids and some clay amphoras for 15-18 months for the best cuvees.