2019 Clos du Caillou ‘La Reserve’ Côtes du Rhône

JD92-94 The flagship Côtes du Rhône from this estate, the 2019 Côtes du Rhône La Reserve is certainly the biggest, richest, and most impressive Côtes du Rhône in the lineup. Revealing a deep purple color as well as rich, powerful bouquet of smoky red and black fruits, peppery herbs, crushed stone, and ample Provençal garrigue, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a great finish. This concentrated, Provençal 2019 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of a decade, if you’re so inclined.
WA91-93 I detected a hint of oak on the nose of the 2019 Cotes du Rhone La Reserve, a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s aged in demi-muids. The vanilla and dried spices serve as a useful counterpoint to the bold black cherries in this full-bodied effort. Rich and expansive on the palate, with a long, velvety finish, it should be a top-flight wine when released.
Estate Notes: 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre. Vines grow on sandy soils near ‘Guigasse,’ reserved for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge ‘La Réserve.’ Old-vine Grenache (70 years) with Mourvèdre (20 years). Hand-harvested. Destemmed; fermented on indigenous yeasts in cement tank. Aged for 13 months, 90% in older demi-muid (600L) and 10% in clay amphorae. Unfined and unfiltered.