Calmel et Joseph
Clairette du Languedoc 2022 l'astre divin
Reviews
Jancis Robinson 16.5/20
Full bottle 1,251 g. 100% Clairette on schist and limestone clay. Hand-picked, destemmed, crushed, with two hours' skin maceration before pressing. Static settling for 24 hours to leave a little bit of very fine lees. Fermentation at 16 °C for 15 days. Lees stirring for one month. No malolactic fermentation. Aged for six months in 80% concrete vats, 20% barrel. This wine took me by surprise. Clairette is just not a variety that gets much attention for being exciting. But this wine is breaking the mould. It smells like braised fennel and freshly chopped celery. Hints of honey and tarragon. It tastes like chopped green apple, cumin seed and the same crunchy celery and braised fennel notes that are on the nose (I reckon it would be brilliant with a Waldorf salad!). There is a liquorice-and-raisin sweetness underpinning the bright-white crisp-brisk fruit on the palate. It's interesting and approachable and different. And very food friendly! It was really good with braised fennel and chicken. (TC)
Calmel & Joseph
Languedoc Roussillon / Frankrijk



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