Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.1

Steely. Mineral. Melons — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Served double blind. The wine appears a very pale, golden color with medium viscosity. Medium+ intensity and quite attention grabbing. Notes of pear, white peach, citrus fruit, minerals, white flowers and some hard to describe non-fruit characteristics that I was having a hard time pinning down…something herbaceous? On the palate, again pears, white peach, and limestone minerals. High acid. Long and satisfying finish. I called Chenin Blanc from Vouvray mostly because it had a very Loire feel to it…but I didn’t love my pick…mostly because I didn’t get the lanolin thing that I usually get from Chenin. Totally forgot about the possibility of Sancerre from a producer like Vacheron. Wow. And now that the glass is empty I’m getting a faint whiff of pyrazines. This was really good and now I need more Vacheron in my life! — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 2 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.1

Snappy and mineral — a month ago

Makoto Someya

9.0

Comfortable Herb aroma representing SB. But oak, rich, honey, CD like. 2012 @2350, Kping -, 210702-210710 — 3 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.3

Elegant, feminine Pinot Noir, full of cherry flavor. Tastes like a reasonably priced Volnay. An excellent value. — 7 months ago

Deb Dellaposta

9.0

Tropical fruits, no green notes — 2 years ago

with Ryan, Chris and 1 other

Makoto Someya

8.9

Much tannic and matured flavor compared with last year. I prefer younger vintage. But it depends. 2014 @1900, Kping -, 210702-210703 — 3 months ago

Serena Peters

9.1

Blood orange, flint and savory herbs - no one can beat Vacheron rosé IMO. Good body from the silex but with a well balanced acidity that keeps it refreshing and smooth ~ can’t wait to drink this all summer long — 3 months ago

Makoto Someya

8.9

Fruity aroma, enough acidity. Slight bitterness 2018 @, - pane e vino, 201216 — 9 months ago