Clos du Caillou
Clos du Caillou is an ancient domaine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, already famous in 1895 mainly as a hunting estate. Only in 1955, with the purchase of the property by Paul Pouizin, does the real transformation take place. At that time, the land was covered with woods, shrubs, and cultivated with a few rows of vines. It will be the son Claude who will give a new face to the estate, decisively focusing on viticulture and planting 9 hectares in the territory of the Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape and as many as 45 in the area of the Côte du Rhône. In 1996, the estate passes into the hands of the daughter Sylvie and her husband Jean-Denis, already winemakers in Sancerre. Another important milestone for the estate is marked by the year 2007, with the decision to convert the vineyard to organic farming and the subsequent obtaining of certification in 2010. In 2020, Clos du Caillou acquires the Domaine de Panisse, a splendid property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape of 6 hectares, characterized by the presence of precious sandy soils.
northeast of the Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the municipality of Courthézon, in an area always famous for the refined elegance of its wines. As is customary in the area, the vineyard is cultivated with the typical grape varieties of the place, which give remarkable richness and complexity to the wines. Regarding red grape varieties, the following are present: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Vaccarèse; while for white grape varieties: Viognier, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc. The vines are managed in harmony with the natural environment, following the principles of organic farming and the practices of biodynamics, such as cow horn manure and silica horn. The soils are mechanically worked so that they can oxygenate and regain their natural vitality.
The area enjoys a particularly favorable climate, with typically Mediterranean characteristics. Warm and bright, it is always well-ventilated thanks to the constant presence of the Mistral wind blowing from the northwest towards the sea. The soils are very particular, consisting mainly of sands, which make them light and draining, and from other parcels located on the classic plateaus of galets roulés. This very characteristic allows for the production of red wines of remarkable finesse and harmony, with delicate tannins and great freshness. The harvests are carried out manually, following the ripening of each grape variety and each single parcel. After a selection in the vineyard, the best bunches are sent for fermentation in cement tanks or in wooden truncated-conical vats, using only indigenous yeasts and with a skin maceration lasting 20-40 days. As per the tradition of the area, the wine then matures in large barrels.
Clos du Caillou is an ancient domaine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, already famous in 1895 mainly as a hunting estate. Only in 1955, with the purchase of the property by Paul Pouizin, does the real transformation take place. At that time, the land was covered with woods, shrubs, and cultivated with a few rows of vines. It will be the son Claude who will give a new face to the estate, decisively focusing on viticulture and planting 9 hectares in the territory of the Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape and as many as 45 in the area of the Côte du Rhône. In 1996, the estate passes into the hands of the daughter Sylvie and her husband Jean-Denis, already winemakers in Sancerre. Another important milestone for the estate is marked by the year 2007, with the decision to convert the vineyard to organic farming and the subsequent obtaining of certification in 2010. In 2020, Clos du Caillou acquires the Domaine de Panisse, a splendid property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape of 6 hectares, characterized by the presence of precious sandy soils.
northeast of the Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the municipality of Courthézon, in an area always famous for the refined elegance of its wines. As is customary in the area, the vineyard is cultivated with the typical grape varieties of the place, which give remarkable richness and complexity to the wines. Regarding red grape varieties, the following are present: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Vaccarèse; while for white grape varieties: Viognier, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc. The vines are managed in harmony with the natural environment, following the principles of organic farming and the practices of biodynamics, such as cow horn manure and silica horn. The soils are mechanically worked so that they can oxygenate and regain their natural vitality.
The area enjoys a particularly favorable climate, with typically Mediterranean characteristics. Warm and bright, it is always well-ventilated thanks to the constant presence of the Mistral wind blowing from the northwest towards the sea. The soils are very particular, consisting mainly of sands, which make them light and draining, and from other parcels located on the classic plateaus of galets roulés. This very characteristic allows for the production of red wines of remarkable finesse and harmony, with delicate tannins and great freshness. The harvests are carried out manually, following the ripening of each grape variety and each single parcel. After a selection in the vineyard, the best bunches are sent for fermentation in cement tanks or in wooden truncated-conical vats, using only indigenous yeasts and with a skin maceration lasting 20-40 days. As per the tradition of the area, the wine then matures in large barrels.
