Ring the harvest bell! ????

The harvest season is upon us—a time when nature and our meticulous craftsmanship come together, filling us with pride for the work done in the preceding months.

In just a few days, under the intense heat, the harvest will begin at Clos de Caille.
With a spring marked by beneficial rains and a dry summer, all signs point to a promising 2024 vintage!

 

THE ART OF HARVESTING

For nearly three weeks, from dawn until dusk, our teams will tend to the vines, row by row, gathering the ripe fruit that will be transformed into the 2024 vintage of Clos de Caille.

In a serene and unique atmosphere, we harvest by machine during the night. This method helps preserve the grapes’ freshness while ensuring intense aromas and more refined flavors in our wines. As dawn approaches, our skilled artisan winemakers will begin the manual harvest, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures. This artisanal process is essential for crafting exceptional wines.

The sight of headlamps creates a mesmerizing spectacle—like stars twinkling among our vines. These lights dance and flicker, guiding us through this highly anticipated annual event: “Les vendanges du Clos.” Since our first vintage in 2021, the hand-picked grapes at the break of day have revealed their brilliance—ripe fruits with generous aromas, after a sun-drenched season.

The later the fruit is harvested and fermented, the more anthocyanins (in reds and rosés) and flavanols (in whites), the natural pigments, will enhance the wine’s color. In contrast, by harvesting early, we achieve pale and delicate hues. To maintain this freshness, we store the grapes in a refrigerated space until vinification.

Fruit of our exceptional terroir, our passion, and our “Chai d’œuvre”—this viticultural achievement that the Mariotti family commits to achieving each year—are made possible by a team of experts, primarily local to the region.

 

HARVEST PREPARATIONS AT CLOS DE CAILLE

The pursuit of viticultural Excellence

Throughout the year, our dedicated artisan winemakers have worked tirelessly to prepare for this harvest season with the utmost care, like virtuosos, each mastering their role. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the meticulous actions taken to ensure exceptional cuvées:

  • Rigorous parcel selection: We conduct a thorough analysis of each parcel, considering microclimatic variations and soil characteristics. This attention to detail allows us to cultivate vines perfectly suited to their terroir, yielding grapes with unparalleled aromas and flavors.
  • Certified organic viticultural practices: Respect for nature is at the heart of our philosophy. This year, we have intensified our efforts in organic viticulture by leaving every other row covered with grass. The 2024 harvest will be our first certified under Organic Agriculture.
  • Pruning and maintenance: The meticu   lous pruning of the vines during winter helped regulate the vigor of each vine. In spring and summer, we performed precise leaf thinning to ensure proper aeration of the grape clusters and optimal sun exposure, promoting healthy and uniform ripening. Simultaneously, we applied the best protective treatments against downy mildew and powdery mildew—two notorious diseases that can devastate crops. Our nighttime treatments effectively countered these threats and safeguarded our vineyard.

The work on the soil was also intense, facilitating aeration and enabling the absorption of life-giving rains.

The first samples were taken on August 13th to assess the ripeness of the grapes. To estimate the variability within each parcel, our Head of Cultivation sampled 300 berries from each one. The sampling was done at the lower left corner, the center, and the upper right corner. The initial tests were not satisfactory due to a noticeable lack of water, leading to additional sampling on August 21st. We are almost ready yet !

A timeless celebration of vine in the heart of a green setting in Provence.

 

HAUTE-COUTURE WINES FROM PROVENCE

Our rosé, red, and white wines are expertly cultivated in specific parcels and blended from Mediterranean grape varieties that thrive on our Provençal terroir: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle.

In the heart of Provence Verte, is a terroir destined for great wines; we conducted detailed soil studies to map the terroir of Clos de Caille. These studies confirmed that this unique location is ideal for producing remarkable cuvées.

The proximity to the Mediterranean provides the estate with a temperate climate at an altitude of 200 meters. This situation results in significant temperature variations, often up to twenty degrees between day and night. Besides the harmonious charisma they lend to the landscape, these topographical features enhance the solar exposure of our vineyard and the drainage of rainfall.

To savor the full array of our terroir’s aromas, explore our 2023 vintages.

DISCOVER OUR CUVÉES

 

To savor the full array of our terroir’s aromas, explore our 2023 vintages.

These wines are full of character, generous on the palate, offering a delightful blend of power and finesse

 

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????️ LE JOURNAL DU CLOS ????️

Our Expert’s opinion: Matthieu Cosse on the 2024 Vintage

« 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year. Weather conditions have been extremely favorable so far, with a very suitable level of rainfall that has prevented water stress and drought. The warm temperatures at the beginning of August have not yet caused any stress or ripening delays. Nighttime temperatures remain acceptable as well. The vines are in excellent condition, with significant quality potential already evident in the early-ripening red varietals, particularly Syrah, and in the white Rolle grapes. »​​​​​​​

 

Regarding the Estate’s grape varieties: 

« For the 2024 vintage, Rolle will be our only white grape variety. It is emblematic of Provence and thrives here. With its vibrant aromatic freshness, it allows us to produce the signature wines of our estate. This year, Rolle will be hand-harvested into small crates, allowing for more rigorous selection and gentle whole-cluster pressing in a small-capacity pneumatic press. »

Mathieu Mariotti, Estate Manager