2018 Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Safres

VIN93-95 Deep bright-hued red. Sexy, spice-accented aromas of ripe red berries and potpourri are lent vivacity by a smoky mineral element. Sweet, palate-coating raspberry, cherry preserve, spicecake and floral pastille flavors show a suave blend of depth and energy. Displays fine delineation and finishes with superb clarity and emphatic, red-fruit-driven persistence. Raised for 17 months in large oak foudres.
JD91-93 Including a touch more Mourvèdre than normal, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Safres is a step up over the Le Caillou cuvée and has plenty of kirsch liqueur, blackberry, incense, and ground pepper aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and incredibly sexy on the palate, with a gorgeous texture, it’s going to hit the ground running yet evolve gracefully on its balance, purity, and class.
Estate Notes: 75% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre. Sourced from estate lieu-dit ‘Les Bedines,’ with “safres” or compacted sand soils. Vine age 60 years, on average. Hand-harvested. Destemmed; fermented on indigenous yeasts in cement tank. Aged for 14 months, 75% in foudre and 25% in demi-muid (600L). Unfined and unfiltered.