New
75cl
Domaine du Clos des Fees Le Clos des Fees 2016
Vendor code : 1701
Hervé Bizeul used to be a sommelier and a journalist before he jumped into making wine himself. His estate sits right by a roundabout in an industrial area with a shiny new winery, but don’t let that fool you — the real magic comes from careful vineyard work and picking the right spots to grow. The Clos des Fées is the real standout, made from the area’s own grape varieties, but Bizeul also has some cool plots of Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir higher up in the hills. He’s one of the big names in the region and his wines are definitely worth checking out.
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The Domaine du Clos des Fées Le Clos des Fées 2016 is a rock-solid blend of 50% Syrah, 20% Carignan, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre, aged for 20 months in new French oak. It’s got plenty of depth and richness, but it’s not heavy or tough to sip on. You get blackberry, cedar, and spice on the nose, then it’s full-bodied and silky in the mouth, finishing long with a bit of gentle tannin that keeps it super fresh. Even though it clocks in at 15% alcohol — pretty normal for this wine — it doesn’t feel overripe or too big. Just seriously tasty and easy to enjoy. Drink Date: 2020 - 2030.
At Domaine du Clos des Fées, they take care of their vines with what you could call sustainable — or just plain sensible — farming. They’re out there checking all 112 plots several times a week, deciding if any treatment is really needed, and only doing it when absolutely necessary, based on how much each disease can actually be tolerated. Depending on the grape variety and where it’s growing, some plots barely see any treatments at all, while others might get a bit more attention. For example, they might spray sulfur five times to handle grey rot or use a touch of copper to fight off powdery mildew. They also rely on clever methods like sexual confusion across more than half the estate to keep pests like eudemis and cochylis in check. They’re not big fans of dumping copper or other harsh stuff into the soil — that’s more common in damp regions anyway. Thanks to their dry, breezy climate, they can really cut down on chemicals and use them only in tiny amounts. Speaking of the fruits of all that thoughtful work, the Domaine du Clos des Fées Le Clos des Fées 2016 is a brilliant example. It’s a gorgeous blend of Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, and Mourvèdre that’s rich and velvety but still super easy to drink — no heaviness, no overripe flavors, just pure deliciousness. Want to see what all that care in the vineyard tastes like in your glass? Grab a bottle at Lambier Wines and treat yourself.
Reviews from critics
95/100
1 points
95-100
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90-94
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85-89
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80-84
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75-79
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0-74
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Wine Advocate
During my visit to the estate last year, I reviewed the newly bottled 2017, somehow skipping the 2016 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées. Don't worry; it's a reassuringly excellent blend of 50% Syrah, 20% each Carignan and Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 20 months in new French oak. Concentrated and rich without being overly dense or difficult to drink, it delivers blackberry, cedar and spice notes on the nose, a full-bodied, velvety experience on the palate and a lingering, gently tannic yet mouthwatering finish. Despite weighing in at 15% alcohol (pretty typical for this bottling), there's no sense of over-ripeness or excess weight—the wine remains wonderfully drinkable.
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