Le Clos des Fées 2021

Tasting notes and advice for the Clos des Fées 2021 from Domaine du Clos des Fées

Tasting

Color
With its deep, intense garnet-red hue, this wine shows beautiful concentration while retaining a luminous brilliance.

Nose
The nose unveils a complex bouquet of ripe black fruits, notably blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, alongside secondary notes of supple leather, tobacco and aromatic garrigue herbs. Subtle touches of vanilla and caramel, inherited from aging in new oak barrels, integrate harmoniously into the whole. With aeration, tertiary aromas of cigar box and sweet spices gradually emerge.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is broad and immediate, revealing remarkable concentration. The texture is creamy and silky despite a firm tannic structure. The mid-palate offers lovely fruity density, while a mineral freshness and vibrant acidity bring definition and balance. The finish, long and complex, lingers elegantly with notes of black fruits, minerality and delicate spices.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats such as a rib of beef or a leg of lamb. It also goes beautifully with Mediterranean slow-cooked dishes like cassoulet, daube provençale or wild boar stew. Game preparations, notably duck, venison or wild boar, make ideal pairings. Aged blue-veined cheeses such as Roquefort or Bleu d'Auvergne also create excellent matches.

Serving and cellaring

Clos des Fées 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. Decanting for one to two hours before serving is recommended to allow the aromas to fully express themselves and for the components to integrate harmoniously. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve and gain complexity until around 2036, or even beyond for perfectly stored bottles.

A powerful, refined red wine from Roussillon by Domaine du Clos des Fées

The estate

Founded in 1998 by Hervé Bizeul, a former sommelier and journalist, the Domaine du Clos des Fées has established itself as an essential benchmark in Roussillon. Based in the Agly Valley, the estate now spans around 30 to 40 hectares spread across several communes including Vingrau, Tautavel and Maury. Hervé Bizeul and his wife Claudine still run the property with the same passion as in its early days. The estate has stood out for its rigorous quality-driven approach, combining respect for the terroir with traditional techniques. Recognized by international critics, Domaine du Clos des Fées embodies the winemaking excellence of the south of France.

The vineyard

The vineyard from which this wine is produced lies within the Côtes du Roussillon Villages appellation, at the foot of majestic limestone cliffs. The plots are planted between 150 and 300 meters above sea level, benefiting from generous southern exposure. The soils are mainly clay-limestone strewn with rounded pebbles, with the presence of iron-rich schist and mica-schist in certain parcels. The Mediterranean climate, tempered by maritime influences and the Tramontane wind, promotes optimal ripening. The vines, some of which are over 80 years old, are farmed according to sustainable viticulture principles. Hand harvesting and meticulous canopy work ensure exceptional fruit quality.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Roussillon was marked by a harsh winter, with frost episodes affecting several French wine regions. Spring brought flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability set in between mid-July and mid-August, before more favorable conditions enabled harmonious ripening of the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

Clos des Fées 2021 is vinified partly in demi-muids and partly in truncated-cone stainless steel vats. Pump-overs and punch-downs are carried out by hand to preserve aromatic finesse. Total maceration extends over several weeks, followed by full malolactic fermentation. Aging takes place over 18 months exclusively in new 100-liter barrels, with regular stirring of the fine lees. The wine is not filtered prior to bottling and benefits from an additional resting period of at least two months in the cellar before release.

Grape varieties

Syrah (25%)
Grenache (25%)
Carignan (25%)
Mourvèdre (25%)