Hayden B. Oothout

9.0

This is a solid Gigondas, especially for the price. Spent 1 hour in the decanter and it is still bright and young. A lot of fruit and a lot of alcohol for a French wine (15%). Perfumed and aromatic on the nose. Lively acidity with cherry, strawberry, and other mixed red fruit. There is some solid earthy attributes but they are restrained compared to other Rhône wines. This will be really enjoyable in about 3-5 years. — 7 days 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.
— 20 days ago

Matthew

9.2

Beautiful vacquerad, especially for this price. Might still wait a couple of years — 3 days ago

Daniel Maquin

8.9

A bit of heat, cherry, garrigue, black olive, blackberry too. The palate is strong with acid and powerful. Good tannins and juice, rather thin matter. Very long finish with fruit. Cool, unusual rasteau

@Delectable Wine this is a rasteau not cdr. — 7 days ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

There is nothing petite about the 2016 Petit Mont. Brooding and virile with muscularity and swagger, it also reveals a surprising number of layers and dimensions. Effusive, briary black raspberry fruit pushed forward on the nose along with garrigue and spice. But the lasting impression on my palate is one of intensely savory and stony minerality, framing the fruit and spice character very well with a foundation of cottony tannin. These elements bring the alcohol into balance. Very harmonious despite the hedonistic style. — 3 days ago

Erik Sjolund

9.2

Very nice, strong Rhone. Blackberries n a hint o cranberries. Not plum but complex dark red fruit. Doesn’t seem as young as is. Smooth yet w an alco touch. — 23 days ago

Mike Reed

9.0

Incredible Rhône blend! Went well with pizza and m&m’s! Front heavy with tons of dark berries. Easy finish, with dry licorice flavors. 2015 vintage enjoyed on 9-7-2019. — 14 days ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Lovely! Needed the aging for sure.
And the Decatur time. 4 hours.

Flint and gravel dust this nose gives off.
Sharp fruits, earthy herbs, hard clay, root.
High acidity, once strong, yet now tempered tannins..
Love the Rhône.. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Deep Ruby in colour - quite dense. On the palate opulent red fruits and some blackberry - full bodied, concentrated and latent, with much more to give. Lucky enough to have had a visit and tasting at the winery 4 years ago where we were told, because of climate change they are increasing the Mourvèdre component in the blend because of its better suitability to hot conditions. This has developed to the stage where the 2017 Hommage just released is “nearly all Mourvèdre “ I read recently. Quite earthy with a little tar. One of my favourite producers in a good vintage still with a 10 year future at least. — 9 days ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2017 Vintage. 13.5% Alcohol. Not as big as the Herman Story but tastes great on a hot summer night. — 7 days ago