The wine shows 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.
Enjoy this wine with rich dish, river fish or poultry cooking in creamy sauce. Delicious with a mushroom risotto.
"Food-friendly, poised, barrel aged white Rhône produced with fruit from 60-year-old Clairette vines with some Roussanne and Viognier adding further breadth and body. The incredible concentration of the quince, pear and lemon curd flavours is underpinned by toasted almonds and honey-glazed apple wedges. A smokey, savoury nuance to the long finish. - Ines SALPICO"
Decanter (July 11th 2022), 92 pts
"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
"Another terrific white from this appellation is the 2017 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes Blanc from Clos De Caveau. Based largely on Clairette (there’s 20% Roussanne and 10% Viognier) brought up in Burgundy barrels, it offers vibrant notes of white peach and pineapple as well a touch of honeyed minerality. With a kiss of background oak, medium body, terrific freshness and purity, and a great finish, it needs another 6-12 months of bottle age but is a smoking good wine."
- Jeb Dunnuck (September 2019, Southern Rhône Part 2: 2017 & 2018 from Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cairanne, and Rasteau), 91+ pts
"Limpid yellow. Intensely perfumed, mineral-laced aromas of fresh and dried pit fruits, jasmine and honey carry strong iodine and anise overtones. Smoky minerality adds lift and cut to ripe orchard and pit fruit flavors, and a touch of lemon zest lends a refreshingly bitter edge. Gains flesh with air and finishes with impressively persistent orange and nectarine flavors and a strong echo of dusty minerals. There's something Burgundian going on here that I find extremely appealing.- Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2018), 92 pts
"Wafts of vanilla, spice and toast accent ripe but slightly muted yellow peach and tangerine flavors in this oak-aged wine. Made predominantly from Clairette and smaller proportions of Roussanne and Viogner, it's full bodied and richly styled. It appeals to lovers of lavishly oaked wines but maintains balance and elegance. Enjoy now–2023. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (March 2019), 91 pts
"White flowers, lavender, buttered citrus and hints of barrique emerge from the 2016 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes Blanc, which medium-bodied, textured, and has building richness. A blend of 70% Clairette, 20% Roussanne, and 10% Viognier, it's a white for the table that should keep for 2-4 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (September 2018), 91 pts
"The estate makes a single white and the 2015 Vacqueyras Blanc Vieilles Vignes is certainly noteworthy. Notes of apple blossom, citrus, white flowers and hints of minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, rounded, impeccably balanced beauty that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-4 years. This cuvée is a blend of 50% Clairette (from 50-year-old vines), 30% Roussanne and the balance Viognier, aged 11 months in barrel, 35% being new."
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2017), 91 pts
Founded in 1905 by Gabriel Archimbaud, Domaine Clos de Cazaux is now run by his grandsons Jean-Michel and Frédéric Vache.
The Vache and Archimbaud families are amongst the oldest ...
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