2013 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz*
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz is more masculine and black-fruited, especially when compared to the 2014. Lots of dark fruits, smoke, scorched earth, pepper, and assorted meaty notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, fresh, focused effort. It’s up with the top wines in the vintage. It’s drinking nicely today, with its fresher style, but it too should have another decade of life.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Opaque ruby. Powerful cherry and dark berry scents show superb clarity and lift, picking up smoke and Indian spice nuances with air. Offers palate-staining, spice-tinged black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show a suave blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes gently sweet and extremely long, with silky, even tannins contributing shape.
85% Grenache, 15% Syrah, age 56 years. Sandy soil with round pebbles on the lieu-dit Les Cassanets. 19 hl/ha. Grenache in foudres (9 to 13 years old) and Syrah in barrels (3 to 5 wines) for 14 months. Fragrant like the Safres but more peppery and darker. Very fine texture, already resolved tannins, and a fresh peppery finish. Really moreish. (JH)
The 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape les Quartz (85% Grenache and 15% Syrah) is a more streamlined and elegant version of this cuvee that gives up lots of blackberry, orange blossom, crushed flowers and violets in its medium to full-bodied, fresh and clean profile. Drink it over the coming decade.