2012 Clos du Caillou Chat du Pape!

I’ve stocked this wine in my cellar vintage after vintage, and no matter how hard I’ve tried to keep my hands off and allow them to mature—they somehow manage to disappear. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to taste developed bottles of Clos du Caillou and the experience has been unforgettable, to say the least. It’s a wine that demands your attention and patience but rewards you tenfold. 

As styles have changed and the popularity of the Rhone has grown, Clos du Caillou continues to produce one of the best and most affordable examples of traditional Chateauneuf du Pape that I have ever tasted. The Certified Organic estate focuses on respecting nature and giving back to the soil for total vitality. This vintage leads with blackberry and spice and follows with seared and smoked meat, the complexity here is utterly astonishing.

My rating: 97, Critic Says: 94-97+ (wine advocate)