Bastide du Claux
Wines
La Motte d'Aigues, Luberon
Bastide du Claux
La Motte d'Aigues, Luberon
“Barraban”, Luberon Blanc
This cuvée is primarily a blend of Vermentino and Grenache Blanc, made from southwest-facing parcels on sandy soils. It contains seven different white varietals (also: Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Rousanne, Marsanne, and Viognier), undergoes a natural fermentation, and is then aged on the fine lees in mostly concrete. A small portion is aged in older oak barrels for 9 months before being bottled.
“Poudrière”, Luberon Rosé
From Sylvain Morey, scion of our Chassagne producer, Jean-Marc, comes this rose from his domaine in Luberon. 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan. The Syrah and three-quarters of the Grenache is direct-press, with the remainder macerated on skins for several hours. Fermented then left on lees in concrete tanks for 6 months before bottling. A wine of surprising structure and length with an elegant balance of red fruit and subtle spice.
“Malacare”, Luberon Rouge
Made from vines averaging about 50 years old, the Malacare is primarily Syrah (60%) and Grenache (25%) with a small amount of Carignan (10%), and comes from southwest-facing slopes of sandy soil. After a fairly long cuvaison of about 3 weeks, the wine is aged mostly in concrete for roughly a year, with the Syrah partly aged in large barrels before being bottled.
“Le Claux”, Luberon Rouge
“Le Claux” is a 2.25-ha site situated at 300-350 meters of altitude. Its soils of clayey marl, rare in the Luberon, along with its northeastern exposure, contribute to a long maturation cycle and engender a wine of great complexity for the area. 60% Syrah (planted 1973), 30% Grenache (1962) and 10% Mourvèdre (1949), with yields rarely topping a meager 30-hl/ha. Naturally fermented with a portion of its added-back stems and aged 2 years primarily in used 600-L demi-muids, “Le Claux” leads with its Syrah aromatically—a coolly spicy and black-fruited nose of notable lift. Densely concentrated and layered on the palate, its tannins have teeth but finishes with a bright, vibrating energy, speaking to Sylvain’s skillful farming and light touch in the cellar.