A mural at Château Camplazens
La Clape is one of my
favourite parts of the Languedoc. It is
a world apart, close to the sea but set away from the hurly burly of
beach. The scenery is wild and dramatic,
with limestone cliffs. And I am always
ready for an excuse to visit, so when Susan and Peter Close suggested that we
come and see the wonderful murals that Simon Fletcher has painted for their new tasting room and barrel cellar, I accepted with alacrity. If you know about
water colours, you will know that Simon has an international reputation. I am not so well-informed. For me he is a local friend whose work I
enjoy enormously. His use of colour is
wonderful and his portrayal of la Clape in Susan and Peter’s cellar is
breathtakingly evocative. My photos
really do not justice to his work; they may just convey a meagre impression and
hopefully tempt you to go and see for yourself, as it covers all four walls of
the new tasting room.
And of course we could
not visit without a tasting, so here is quick update.
2012 Viognier –
10.00€
Light golden; rich peachy nose, and on the palate. Good acidity and balancing texture. No oak. Some bâtonnage and élevage in vat. And a couple of days later we enjoyed the 2010 Viognier, which had evolved beautifully with richer peachy fruit and more weight and body.
Light golden; rich peachy nose, and on the palate. Good acidity and balancing texture. No oak. Some bâtonnage and élevage in vat. And a couple of days later we enjoyed the 2010 Viognier, which had evolved beautifully with richer peachy fruit and more weight and body.
2011 Livia, Viognier,
Pays d’Oc – 20€
Another interpretation
of Viognier. Quite golden. Unobtrusive oak on the nose, but more on the
palate, plus some peachy texture. More
body, with some nutty and even leesy notes.
Good weight. Very intriguing with
lots of nuances and a long finish. This
isn’t made every year; there was none in
2013.
2013 Grenache – 9.00€
Good colour. Ripe
plummy fruit. Soft and supple with
cherry liqueur fruit and spice. Lovely
easy drinking.
2013 Marselan – 9.00€
I’ve remembered this
in the past as being a bit of the jammy side, but this vintage is absolutely
delicious. Rounded ripe with sweet spice
and ripe garrigues and a refreshing streak of tannin. Good balance, and satisfying depth of flavour
2013 Syrah – 9.00€
Good young colour. Quite a firm nose, with some peppery fruit. A firm streak of tannin, even a touch green,
with an inharmonious edge. Peter
admitted that 2013 was a difficult harvest.
Sea mists came in for dour days at the end of September when they were
hoping to harvest the Syrah, and consequently the grapes developed some
rot.
And now on to La Clape
with:
2011 Garrigue – 10.00€
A blend of Syrah and
Grenache./ Very perfumed nose, with
black fruit and tapenade on the palate.
25% given an élevage in wood.
Spice and complexity and a touch of oak.
2011 Reserve – 14.00€
60% Syrah, 30%
Grenache and 10% Carignan. 50% in
barrels of three wines. Good deep
colour. Ripe spicy fruit; black fruit
and tapenade ,with a firm tannic steak.
Youthful and characterful.
2012 Premium - 20€
Again 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache
and 10% Carignan, essentially a barrel selection from the Reserve. About 200 barrels. Quite firm and structured with more tannin
and more oak. Some sweet black fruit on
the finish, but quite a youthful tannic
streak. Needs time.
2011 Julius – 40€
90% Syrah with 10%
Grenache. This is their flagship wine, which
is not made every year; there was none in 2012, and probably will be none in
2013. So make the most of this
2011. Deep colour. Firm dense spice on the nose. Quite solid oak. Rich tapenade with a tannic
streak. Youthful and sturdy with some
leathery notes. Needs time. It is significantly
more expensive than their other wines, but Peter feels that it is essential to
push the boundaries. It is important for
the image. I’d like to try this again
in about ten years’ time.
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