Le Clos des Fées 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for Le Clos des Fées 2022 Domaine du Clos des Fées

Tasting

Colour
This French red wine displays a deep, particularly opaque black hue. Subtle ruby or garnet highlights may appear over time.

Nose
Wonderfully complex, the bouquet first reveals vanilla and sweet spice notes. After aeration, it evolves towards intense aromas of black fruit such as blackcurrant and blackberry, mingled with hints of stewed fruit and caramel. Nuances of garrigue, pepper and a fine minerality complete this rich olfactory palette.

Palate
The attack is rich and concentrated, dominated by black fruit. The mid-palate offers a creamy texture underpinned by refined, perfectly integrated tannins. The whole displays superb balance between power and freshness, stretching out into a remarkably long finish.

Serving and storage

To fully appreciate Le Clos des Fées 2022, it is recommended to decant it around an hour before serving. While it can be enjoyed young, this wine has exceptional ageing potential and can be savoured at its best until around 2042.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 15%. It is bottled without filtration, which may result in a light natural sediment.

The richness and elegance of a Côtes du Roussillon Villages wine

The estate

Officially founded in 1998, the Domaine du Clos des Fées is located in the Roussillon. Behind this venture is Hervé Bizeul, a former sommelier and journalist, who transformed a small, isolated plot into an unmissable estate of around 30 hectares. Still the owner and current head of the estate alongside his wife Claudine, he brings a bold and independent vision to the property. The estate stands out for its exacting quality standards and its ability to reveal the true character of its terroirs, elevating its cuvées among the region's leading references.

The vineyard

Located in the commune of Vingrau, within the Côtes du Roussillon Villages appellation, the vineyard benefits from a unique microclimate, swept by the tramontane wind nearly 200 days a year. The vines, aged between 50 and 100 years for this cuvée, thrive on hillsides with iron-rich clay-limestone soils, with a pH above 9. The estate practises sustainable viticulture, favouring hand-harvesting and meticulous monitoring of berry ripeness.

The vintage

The year 2022 was marked by extreme weather conditions, with intense heat and pronounced drought throughout the growing season. These climatic constraints resulted in exceptionally ripe, highly concentrated grapes, while preserving fine balance and a saving acidity.

Winemaking and ageing

For Le Clos des Fées 2022, vinification takes place partly in new wooden demi-muids and partly in stainless steel conical tanks. Hot draining is used to preserve freshness, followed by complete malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged on the lees for 18 months, exclusively in new French oak barrels. All handling, such as racking, is carried out manually by gravity, without pumping, in order to preserve the wine's structure.

Grape varieties

• 50% Syrah
• 25% Grenache Noir
• 15% Carignan
• 10% Mourvèdre