You will not find another wine like this anywhere, least of all in the southern Rhône—this lacy, pure 100% Clairette Rose is the delicious whim of winemaker Bruno Gaspard who couldn't resist showing off one of Caillou's most curious rare grapes, not to mention how well it performs on the estate's peerless, stony terroir. Ruby grapefruit and pear skin mix with crushed stones and a hint of dried thyme on the nose; the mouth is wonderfully floral, very fresh and pure, with notes of crisp white fruits, citrus zest, some fresh almonds and a dash of white pepper. The perfect aperitif wine with body, grace and lift.
2009 Caillou Côtes du Rhône whites
3.11.2011
If it's a hot summer day in Châteauneuf (and there are plenty of them) then any winemaker worth her or his salt has got a chilled southern white wine in hand. What makes these whites so satisfying is the impeccable way they balance the succulent flavors of honeyed white fruits with the uplifting freshness of the region's stony terroir—luscious and thirst-quenching at once.
Since so few of these bottles make it to our shores (blame those thirsty winemakers), we thought we'd go the extra mile and secure a special yet limited selection of our two favorite Côtes du Rhône wines from Caillou and let you experience for yourself just how delicious southern Rhône whites can be. There are few if any estates that have such a touch with southern white wines as does Caillou—their 2009 selections are stunningly elegant and fresh wines that are made to impress.
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Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2010
France
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Rhône Valley
A multifaceted old-vine blend that is an eloquent, full-flavored tribute to Caillou's stony terroir; “Quartz” reminds one immediately of Courthezon's rocky landscape, with rocks the size of footballs on the ground and a rich, generous and spicy mouthful of lush purple fruit in the bottle.
$99.95
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Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2010
France
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Rhône Valley
“A candidate for wine of the vintage…Its inky/purple color is accompanied by notes of blackberries, roasted meats, smoked herbs, ink and incense. Rich, structured and full-bodied, it is another great example of this cuvee, which was first introduced in 1998 (a vintage that is just now becoming fully mature at age 13).”—The Wine Advocate
$189.95
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Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Quartz 2010
France
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Rhône Valley
“Galets roulés” are the symbol of the estate—huge, round quartz stones that remind you that these vineyards once were the Rhône's ancient riverbed. Winemaker Bruno Gaspard selects his oldest vines and the stoniest soils inside the estate “clos” for this deeply fruited and very spicy Côtes du Rhône.
$44.25
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Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Reserve 2010
France
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Rhône Valley
Just like its Châteauneuf counterpart, this incredibly luscious Côtes du Rhône is wrapped in purple silk and delivers mouth-filling, saturated black-fruited flavors, silky, earthy tannins and good structure. A selection of older-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre from sandy soils inside the domaine “clos.”
$55.25
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Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2010
France
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Rhône Valley
A delicately pink, Provençal sunset in the glass; this has to be the most balanced and effortlessly pure rosé we've had from Caillou, and it's certainly one of their most elegant and pleasure-driven. Aromas of sweet peaches, pink roses and spring rain show on the captivating nose; the mouth is silky with a blend of jellied raspberries, fresh tangerine rinds and bright cherries. A blend of Mourvèdre, Counoise and Grenache.
$20.50
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Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2009
France
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Rhône Valley
This has to be one of the most intense, concentrated "Quartz" bottlings we've ever had—decadent and midnight-hued in the glass, this 2009 is the star of the vintage. "Absolutely brilliant…a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, with the Grenache aged in foudre and the Syrah component aged in small barrels. This wine displays oodles of minerality, a dense ruby/purple color, and a sweet kiss of black currants and raspberries intermixed with licorice, pepper, and crushed rock. Admirably combining power with finesse, this full-bodied beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 10-14 years."—The Wine Advocate
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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