Clos de la Barthassade, Terrasses du Larzac 'Les Ouvrees' 2022
17/20
‘Lifting this glass to your nose is like catching a whiff of fragrant cigar smoke on an early summer evening, threading between the heady purple scent of lilacs and wisteria. The fruit is black and sweet and tinged with ink-dust sootiness, cupped within the curved brace of grainy, herbal tannins. It's a chiaroscuro of black and purple uplit by splashes of bright, cypress and chocolate-mint green. Why have I never tasted a Clos de la Barthassade wine before?! This is fantastic.’ Drink 2024-2033 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
17/20
‘Lifting this glass to your nose is like catching a whiff of fragrant cigar smoke on an early summer evening, threading between the heady purple scent of lilacs and wisteria. The fruit is black and sweet and tinged with ink-dust sootiness, cupped within the curved brace of grainy, herbal tannins. It's a chiaroscuro of black and purple uplit by splashes of bright, cypress and chocolate-mint green. Why have I never tasted a Clos de la Barthassade wine before?! This is fantastic.’ Drink 2024-2033 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
17/20
‘Lifting this glass to your nose is like catching a whiff of fragrant cigar smoke on an early summer evening, threading between the heady purple scent of lilacs and wisteria. The fruit is black and sweet and tinged with ink-dust sootiness, cupped within the curved brace of grainy, herbal tannins. It's a chiaroscuro of black and purple uplit by splashes of bright, cypress and chocolate-mint green. Why have I never tasted a Clos de la Barthassade wine before?! This is fantastic.’ Drink 2024-2033 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
Hélène and Guillaume met in Burgundy studying wine in Dijon. They both learnt the ropes from local legends, including Sylvain Pataille in Marsannay for Hélène, and Dominique Derain in St Aubain and Clos de la Pousse d’Or in Volnay for Guillaume. They found their first plot of old vines, called La Barthassade, in Montpeyroux in 2013. Today the couple farm 13.5 Ha - certified organic and using biodynamics - working their old vines with a horse. Clos la Barthassade is now spread over the terroirs of Montpeyroux, Jonquières and Saint-Saturnin with grape varieties including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Carignan Blanc, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Vermentino, and even some Aligoté.
Grape variety : 50% Syrah, 35% Mouvedre, 15% Grenache Terroir : Limestone rich soils around Montpeyroux and Jonquières Average age of the vines : 35 years Winemaking : Indigenous yeasts, Mourvèdre is destemmed where as 50% of Syrah and Grenache are whole bunches. Vatting takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Pumping over and punching down for just 2/3's of the fermentation. Ageing : 22 months in demi-muids, barrels and concrete eggs
