Burgundy meets the Rhone! When Mounir Saouma and his wife Rotem Brakin (owners of highly sought-after Burgundy micro-negociant Lucien Le Moine) had an opportunity in 2009 to purchase a neglected vineyard in the Pignan area, they did not hesitate! The Clos Saouma winery is based near Orange, in the Vaucluse, just north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Today they farm a total of 21 acres across 8 vineyards in all 5 villages of the appellation (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Bedarrides, Sorgues, Courthezon and Orange) including that cherished piece of Pignan site (nieghbor of Château Rayas). In almost every respect, the Saoumas are vinifying their southern Rhône wines in the same manner as their Burgundy wines: they employ ‘whole-cluster’ fermentation; no punch down, no racking and subject the wines to exceptionally long cellar aging (24 to 36 month élévage)  in a cold underground cellar; and minimize their use of sulfur by trapping trace Co2 left over from fermentation.

100% old Grenache from the Pignan vineyards (neighbor of Château Rayas). The fruit is pressed firmly with small presses dating from the late 1970s, left in tank to macerate at relatively cool temperatures for 11 days, and then transferred to 228 and 500 l barrels  for the next three years. The wine is never punched down, never racked, and only receive minimal sulfur after 18 months, and not filtered before bottling.

Glistening ruby-red. Extremely sexy, spice-accented aromas of ripe red berries, incense and potpourri, along with a potent, smoky mineral element that adds vivacious lift. Offers sweet, palate-staining raspberry, cherry pastry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that show remarkable definition and back-end thrust. Displays a compelling blend of richness and energy and finishes with outstanding clarity and almost undetectable, silky tannins that sneak in slowly.