Rhône Theme

Timed Online Auction, 2 - 12 February 2024

Rhône | International & South African offering
About the Session

The first sale of the 2024 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction calendar is an exciting Rhône valley and Rhône-style offering and has fast-become one of the most popular at Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions. 


Sold for

ZAR 3 518
Lot 119
  • Le Clos du Caillou; Collection; 2015; 3 (1 x 3); 750ml


Lot Estimate
ZAR 3 500 - 5 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 3 518

About this Item

2015 Collection
3 (1 x 3) 750ml

The Clos du Caillou was founded in 1895 as a hunting reserve. In 1955, Paul Pouizin realised the amazing terroir that lay in this forested reserve and cleared portions of the land to plant vines. In 1996, Claude Pouizin’s youngest daughter Sylvie and her husband, Jean-Denis Vacheron, took over at Le Clos du Caillou. Jean-Denis proved an impressive winemaker – led by passion without limit and visionary ideas. Le Clos du Caillou jumped ahead under his management and became one of the best producers in the appellation. After his tragic passing in 2002, Sylvie picked up the reins with help from the talented winemaker Bruno Gaspard. From the 2010 vintage, the domain is certified organic.

This lot consists of the following wines:
Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône La Réserve 2015 (2 x 750ml)
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Quartz 2015 (1 x 750ml)

Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône La Réserve 2015:
‘55% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre. Seductive rose, clove and cedar spice. Full but not heavy. Very fine tannins and bright raspberry acidity. Like a still lake – smoke on the water. A polished, pure and potent modern expression.’
– Matt Walls, Decanter.com, 94/100 (Oct 2017)

‘Youthful violet. A highly complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe blueberry, Indian spices, candied lavender and sandalwood, and a zesty mineral overtone gains strength as the wine strestches out. Satins the palate with appealingly sweet red and blue fruit flavours that show impressive depth as well as vivacity, thanks to s spine of juicy acidity. The extremely long, floral-driven finish is given shape by fine-grained tannins that are quickly absorbed by the intense, concentrated fruit.’ – Josh Reynolds, Vinous, 93-95/100 (Dec 2016)

Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Quartz 2015:
‘Worldly, glamorous, Manhattan restaurant kind of sophistication on the nose. Tight, concentrated, knows where it’s going. Unusual. Savoury, exceptionally well made but atypical. Not exaggerated or hard work to taste but obviously a lot of thought has gone into this dense yet suave wine. Not sweet and cleverly made so that it can be tackled more or less any time. Clever! I’m dying to know what this wine is…. 95% Grenache and 15%Syrah (aged in small barrels) apparently.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18.5/20 (Jan 2006)

‘A big step up and getting a big “Wow” in the notes, the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz knocks it out of the park with its sweet kirsch, blackberry, red licorice and crushed-stone minerality, all of which come soaring from the glass. Full-bodied, rich and textured, with fabulous fruit and texture, it might lack some of the elegance and polish found in the cuvee La Reserve, yet makes up for it with its exuberant, sexy style. A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that’s all from the Les Cassanets lieu-dit (aged 18 months in mostly in foudre), it should continue to shine over the coming 3-5 years.’ – Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, 93/100 (Feb 2014)

‘Ruby-red. Powerful blackberry and blackcurrant scents aromas, with sexy oak spice accents. Lush, round and velvety, with deep, sweet dark fruit flavors and a good wallop of vanillin oak. A bitter chocolate note appears on the finish, adding depth to this inky, powerful wine. Sweetened with air and began to show some serious tannin, suggesting that patience is in order.’ – Josh Reynolds, Vinous, 92+/100 (Jan 2007)

View all Le Clos du Caillou lots for sale in this auction