Clairette is an age old grape that originated in the southwestern part of France. Some folks believe that Clairette is made up of more than one grape that was cloned hundreds of years ago. Clairette is a wonderful white grape that is mostly grown in southern France giving wines delicate fruity notes. Clairette is one of the few grapes that are permitted in the production of Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The Rhone Valley, Provence, and Languedoc are the main areas of production for Clairette. There are some appellations that even carry the Clairette name, which is unusual for France. Those names include Clairette de Die, Clairette de Bellegarde, and Clairette de Languedoc. Clairette is also one of three varieties that are permitted for the noble white wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Clairette produces a lively, lemony, fruity flavor as opposed to the Roussanne and Bourboulenc, which provide complexity, longevity, and length. Clairette is also used to produce vermouth as it produces wine that is very high in alcohol and low in acidity. Wines yielded from Clairette are often described as flabby because they can oxidize quite easily. Outside of France, Clairette is also grown in Australia, Sardinia and South Africa for sparkling wines.
Begude Bandol Blanc is made from 80% Clairette, 10% Rolle and 10% Ugni Blanc
Pale yellow color with bright highlights.
Expressive aromas of citrus fruits. Juicy, fresh, fleshy and opulent on the palate, it is precise and elegant with ample texture, good acidity and great balance fruit /alcohol.
Organic Agriculture
Yields: 20hl/ha
Average age of the vines: 30 years
Manual harvest in small crates.
Double sorting, total destemming.
Molding and pressing of the grapes prior to alcoholic fermentation.
Vinification in vats and aging in oak barrels (one-year old) for 6 months.
Pairs well with white meats, grilled fish, shellfish, vegetables, tapenades. Exotic and Mediterranean cuisine.
Cazaux Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d'Or is made from 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc.
A wine with lively acidity, expressive aromas of fennel and white flowers. It is long and full in the mouth with minty and anisy aromas mixed with white peach flavors. Refreshing and mineral character.
Clairette grapes are green harvested to concentrate and harmonize aroma. Each grape varietal is hand picked separately. Pressing with skin contact at low temperature. Aged 12 months in stainless steel tank. (No oak)
Enjoy this wine with all sorts of fish starters, squid salad with olive oil and basil. A must try with fresh oysters.
Review:
"The 2018 Vacqueyras Les Clefs D'Or Blanc is another head-turner. A blend of 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, and 20% Grenache Blanc brought up in tank, it offers a clean, vibrant style carrying classy notes of tart peach, citrus, lemongrass, and exotic herbs. Medium-bodied, balanced, and with a kiss of minerality, it’s solid today, yet I suspect it will age gracefully for 7-8 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (September 2019, Southern Rhône Part 2: 2017 & 2018 from Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cairanne, and Rasteau), 92 pts
Cazaux Vacqueyras Blanc Vieilles Vignes 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne and 20% Viognier
The wine has a beautiful golden color.
The aromas are rich and
exotic with mango, almonds, toast, lemon, pineapple white flowers and
papaye. These aromas will develop to honey, butter and pear after ageing
for a few years.
The finish is long, citrusy and toasty.
Terroir: Slopes of sandy soil or grey limestone.
Yield: 25 -30 hl/ha
Age of the vines: 70 years old minimum. The oldest are around 90 years old.
The
grapes are pressed pneumatically after a few hours contact with the
skins.The must is kept at 20°c during the alcoholic fermentation to
optimise the aromas and respect the wine’s suppleness.
Barrel fermented an aged in 228-liter French Oak barrel for 12 months with regular stirrings of the lees.
MaloLactic Fermentation also in barrel.
Enjoy this wine with rich dish, river fish or poultry cooking in creamy sauce. Delicious with a mushroom risotto.
Review:
"Limpid yellow. A wild, expansive bouquet displays an array of citrus pith and pit fruits, succulent and (once-) illicit herbs, dried flowers and honey, along with a smoky mineral flourish the emerges with air. Stains the palate with juicy pear nectar, candied fennel, chamomile and bitter quinine flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. The impressively long, chewy, focused finish echoes the floral note and leaves a refreshingly bitter pear skin note behind. Color me impressed. I'd love to see this wine, when it gets bottled, up against some high-end Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites. Raised in barriques. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2020), 92-93 pts
Cazaux Vacqueyras Blanc Vieilles Vignes 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne and 20% Viognier
The wine has a beautiful golden color.
The aromas are rich and
exotic with mango, almonds, toast, lemon, pineapple white flowers and
papaye. These aromas will develop to honey, butter and pear after ageing
for a few years.
The finish is long, citrusy and toasty.
Terroir: Slopes of sandy soil or grey limestone.
Yield: 25 -30 hl/ha
Age of the vines: 70 years old minimum. The oldest are around 90 years old.
The
grapes are pressed pneumatically after a few hours contact with the
skins.The must is kept at 20°c during the alcoholic fermentation to
optimise the aromas and respect the wine’s suppleness.
Barrel fermented an aged in 228-liter French Oak barrel for 12 months with regular stirrings of the lees.
MaloLactic Fermentation also in barrel.
Enjoy this wine with rich dish, river fish or poultry cooking in creamy sauce. Delicious with a mushroom risotto.
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Le Miocene is made from 60% Clairette, 40% Roussanne
Pale yellow colour with hints of green, aromas of white flowers (may blossom, honeysuckle).
The palate is pleasantly balanced between liveliness and roundness, which brings out characteristics of dried apricot, honey and elderberry. A Châteauneuf du Pape white displaying a great finesse.
Best between 1 and 8 years.
Soil type Coming from the single vineyard named “La Fontaine”, the plot is facing north.It is made of clay-sand and limestone. Thanks to the northern orientation, it is always very well aired. This sector allow the Roussane and Clairette to mature in great conditions without losing freshness, which we believe is key point. Winemaking & ageing Whole-bunch pressing. Vinification in stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation temperature controlled at 15°C.
Review:
"Based on a 60/40 split of Clairette and Roussanne brought up all in tank, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène Blanc offers a pretty, already complex nose of mulled citrus and pear fruits, leafy herbs, and honeyed toast. With notable richness, medium body, and bright acidity, as well as a clean, dry finish, it’s classic white from this great region to enjoy over the coming 3-5 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 92 pts
What we are offering today is the holy grail of the Rhone Valley: Mordoree Lirac Blanc Plume de Peintre 2017. This wine is only produced in special vintages, 2012 being the last and now 2017 which is by far a superior Rhone vintage.
So, we have a wine rarely produced from one of Rhone’s top estates and the near perfect vintage combined with only 10 cases imported. All of which make this wine the most sought after wine not only in our portfolio, but in all of the Rhone Valley.It is no surprise this is considered the finest Lirac produced since the Delorme family of Mordoree was the force behind the rejuvenation of the Lirac region two decades ago.
Review:
Tasted a week before bottling, the 2017 Lirac Blanc la Plume du Peintre is a blend of five varieties and was barrel fermented and aged in new oak (six Saint-Martin barrels, to be precise). Honey and caramel notes adorn tropical fruit, with hints of pineapple and guava framed and supported by orange and lime zest. It's full-bodied and rich, with a long, lively finish. - Wine Advocate 92-94 Points
Betz Family La Serenne Syrah is 100% Syrah
La Serenne is the most reflective of the site/vintage dynamic of our three single-site 2012 Syrahs. Lovers of this wine know that its source, the Boushey Vineyard, is the highest altitude of the three vineyards and is typically the latest harvested. This cool site was accentuated by the cooler season and the results reflect the seriousness of this vineyard and its care.
An extraordinary, nearly impenetrable black purple color leads to a concentrated, inky aromatic impression: smoky black cherry and wild blackberry dominate, but a litany of supporting aromas is already emerging: smoke, violet, mushroom, roasted meat, Chinese 5 spice and minerals. It has a full attack on entry and a big, rich mouthfeel that goes on and on.
2012 is our 13th harvest from this site and these rows. We continue to be impressed with the chameleon nature of this vineyard, in cool years and hot, in heat spikes and cool springs: it provides us with surprises and opportunities at every harvest. While the themes of deep black fruits and pliant structure always surface, the nuance of this vineyard and its care (thank you, Dick Boushey) make it some of the most satisfying fruit we work with every harvest.
Review:
"The pure, elegant and textured 2014 Syrah la Serenne offers that classic violet and floral characteristics of the cuvee, as well as medium to full-bodied richness, lots of black raspberry fruit, fine, sweet tannin and a great finish. It’s not as powerful or concentrated as the La Cote Rousse, yet it’s a joy to drink and will cruise for a decade or more on its balance and purity. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #225, June 2016), 93 pts
Clos Solene Harmonie is made from Paso Robles 67% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah
Composed of 5 of the best vineyards on the west side of Paso Robles with mainly limestone and shale terroirs, brought elegance and pureness to this vintage. Aged for 16 months in larger used barrels, it delivers, on the nose, an incredible bouquet, and on the palate, notes of strawberries followed by some silkiness texture with delicate tannins and a great acidity.
Aged 16 months in mostly used puncheons 400-liter barrels (15% new)
Pairs with roasted pork. Eggplant parmesan, filet mignon
Review:
"The Grenache-dominated cuvée is the 2018 Harmonie, which is 70% Grenache, 16% Syrah, and 14% Mourvèdre. It's a big wine, yet it shows a fresher, beautifully vibrant nose of black raspberries, licorice, candied flowers, and spice that opens up beautifully with time in the glass. Brought up mostly in neutral barrel, it still has a kiss of background oak in its aromas and texture and is beautifully balanced, full-bodied, and elegant on the palate. It's a well put together Grenache that reminds me slightly of a more modern styled Châteauneuf du Pape. Drink it over the coming decade or so."
- Jeb DUNNUCK (September 1st 2020), 95 pts