Clos Saouma


— Portfolio —

INOPIA CÔTE DE RHONE VILLAGES BLANC 2021
Bottle Shot

The vast majority of the fruit is from their own vineyards around the winery in Orange, planted in 2014. Mostly Grenache Blanc (upwards of 70%) with Roussanne, Marsanne & Clairette.

Yields as low as 30 l/hct. Pressed hard using mechanic press (old Vaslin Press from 1974) taking all the lees (no racking) then fermented naturally (some of the varietals co-fermented dependant on vintage) in 1600 ltr Cement eggs + 500ltr barrels.

Barrels are predominantly seasoned wood that have been used for the Magis Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc the year prior. The barrels are sourced from the same cooper they use in Burgundy, Stephane Chassin who uses wood from the Jupiles forest, sourced just north of the Loire Valley. It’s a very tight grain wood and low toast.

On full lees for 16 months minimum, no racking and little to no sulphur during elevage if only a few months prior to bottling. Bottled unfined + unfiltered

“INOPIA is a terroir in Orange (remember Orange is one of the five villages producing Châteauneuf-du-Pape) , clay soil (1 m) with a lot of little river stones called “Grès” (8 m deep) so it has a nice humidity (clay) for the dry south climate and a lot of mineral elements from the stone. The land was empty abandoned when we bought it in 2011 , we saw the great potential there and we decided to plant 11 varietals (teasing Châteauneuf with their 13 varietals) , high density (4700 plants per hectare, normally it’s 3500 ) , soil is very poor and we decided not to bring any food to the roots , objective quality low yield and not quantity” – Clos Saouma

 

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC ‘MAGIS’ 2021
Bottle Shot

Magis means ‘more, much more’ and there is no doubt here. Over the past decade this wine has become truly loved by trade and collector alike both in Australia and around the world, garnishing praise from across the critic spectrum as a world class white wine in a region synonymous with red production.

A blend of approximately 75% old vine Grenache Blanc with a dabble of Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne and other permitted white varietals in small qtys.

Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed manually using mechanic press. No racking at any stage. All the lees taken to the barrel. The varietals are sometimes co-fermented but this is very vintage dependent.

Primary ferment often doesn’t finish until the following spring followed by malolactic. Aged on full lees for minimum of 2 years, in 500L barrels. No racking and little to no sulphur during elevage if only a few months prior to bottling, vintage dependent. Bottled unfined + unfiltered.

The majority of the barrels used are new and made by the same cooper they use in Burgundy, Stephane Chassin who uses wood from the Jupiles forest, sourced just north of the Loire Valley. It’s a very tight grain wood and low toast.

The vineyards

Majority of grapes are from pierredon, a 1.7 hectare vineyard that they own in it’s enterity since 2014. Mounir expresses that in his opinion pierredon is THE place to make white in CNDP. Eastern part of the appellation, closest to the alps. He describes to me that the ‘fingers of the mother rock of the Alps stretches out into the vineyard.Clay/Sandy top soil, active limestone below. No Galet in this part, small pebbles.

They also have 0.8 Hectares from Le Pointu the highest point in the appellation. Rayas & Bonneau also have plantings in Pointu. Rotem tells me along with Grenache Blanc it’s planted with Clairette + Clairette rose and adds freshness to the overall blend, picked earlier than pierredon. Both these vineyards were planted in the 70’s. They also have smaller plots in Palstor & Guigassa which goes into the overall blend.

Typicity

Clos Saouma always tells me the smokiness is not from the barrel. They make a CNDP Blanc from pierredon that is only fermented in concrete egg and show people blind. “They all say it’s smoky, from the oak” and then explains it’s completely fermented in egg. He pushes the point that the aroma, like in Meursault Perrieres, is from the soil.

 

INOPIA ROUGE CÔTE DE RHONE VILLAGES ROUGE 2021
Bottle Shot

The vast majority of their fruit is from their own vineyards around the winery in Orange, planted in 2014. Mostly Grenache Noir (over 70%) with Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault and Counoise.

Yields as low as 30 l/hct. Cold maceration with 100% whole clusters for a week (vintage dependant) then fermentation without any additions for 10 days (some of the varietals co-fermented dependant on vintage). No pumping over or pigeage ‘Why do you want to chase colour, do you drink or taste it?’ as Mounir tells me.

Pressed off taking all the lees then aged in a combination of cement eggs + tanks, 2300ltr to 3400 ltr Foudre + 500ltr barrels. Aged on full lees for 16 months, no racking and little to no sulphur during elevage if only a few months prior to bottling, vintage dependent. Bottled unfined + unfiltered.

The 500ltr barrels are predominantly seasoned wood that have been used prior for the Omnia and Arioso Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge. Barrels are sourced from the same cooper they use in Burgundy, Stephane Chassin who uses wood from the Jupiles forest, sourced just north of the Loire Valley. It’s a very tight grain wood and low toast.

“INOPIA is a terroir in Orange (remember Orange is one of the five villages producing Châteauneuf-du-Pape) , clay soil (1 m) with a lot of little river stones called “Grès” (8 m deep) so it has a nice humidity (clay) for the dry south climate and a lot of mineral elements from the stone. The land was empty abandoned when we bought it in 2011 , we saw the great potential there and we decided to plant 11 varietals (teasing Châteauneuf with their 13 varietals) , high density (4700 plants per hectare, normally it’s 3500 ) , soil is very poor and we decided not to bring any food to the roots , objective quality low yield and not quantity” – Clos Saouma

 

“Best value of all, though, may by the Inopia, which comes from the ‘Clos Saouma’ vineyards sited in the Cotes du Rhone-Village of Vieuw Bouigard near Orange, surrounding the winery. The couple have nine hectares planted in this less expensive land – yet it’s soil potential is outstanding (clay over deep beds of river rolled pebbles), and the wines, – one third white, two thirds red – are made accordingly to the same lees nourished unhurried principals” – Andrew Jefford” – Decanter

 

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ROUGE ‘OMNIA’ 2021
Bottle Shot

Omnia, meaning ‘ALL’ is a blend albeit 75% Grenache with the rest made up with the other 12 varieties. It’s a blend of five villages from 9 different vineyards but it’s key to understand that most of the wine is from Pignan, the sub region they believe offers the most elegant Grenache from this region.

Cold soaked for 7/11 days with a mixture of whole-bunch and crushed grapes then allowed to warm up when ferment starts naturally. Strictly no pumping over or pigeage ‘Why do you want to chase colour, do you drink or taste it?’ as Mounier tells me.

Free run and pressings separated and aged in Demi mud (500ltrs) new and aged, Foudre (2300 litres) & cement natural eggs and cement tank. Aged for 2 years, no racking whilst aging and little to no sulphur during elevage if only a few months prior to bottling, vintage dependent. Bottled unfined + unfiltered.

Vineyards

Omnia’s largest parcel of the blend comes from Pignan. They blend this with grapes from the four other communes of Châteauneuf being Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Centre), Orange (North), Bedarrides (South East)& Sorgues (South).

“A great sense of tension, though light extraction. Spicy, with fine tannins. Fruit coming from eight different terroirs and all five Châteauneuf communes.” – 94 points – Decanter

 

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ROUGE LE CLOS ‘ARIOSO’ 2020
Bottle Shot

100% Grenache from the famed Pignan sub appellation, majority of vines planted in 1942. Clos Saouma have always passionately believed Pignan (Home of famed Chateau Rayas wines) offers the most elegant expression of Grenache from CNDP.

Cold soaked then whole-bunch/clusters allowed to warm up when ferment starts naturally. Strictly no pumping over or pigeage.

Pressed exclusively to Demi mud (500ltrs) barrels with all the lees included. Aged for 3 years, no racking whilst aging and little to no sulphur during elevage if only a few months prior to bottling, vintage dependent. Bottled unfined + unfiltered.

The 500ltr barrels used are new and made by the same cooper they use in Burgundy, Stephane Chassin who uses wood from the Jupiles forest, sourced just north of the Loire Valley. It’s a very tight grain wood and low toast.

 

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ROUGE  ‘ARIOSO’ BLANC 2020

This is sourced entirely from the Lieu-dit of Pierredon and 100% Grenache Blanc. It’s vinified the same way as the Magis ‘see above’ however the elevage is just one single 500ltr demi-mud (500ltr) for 36 months on full lees, no racking/sulphur for the full period. Only bottled in Magnum.

 

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ROUGE ‘LE PETIT LIVRE’ 150ML 2016
Bottle Shot

This is the same in all manners to the Arioso (above) however is aged for an additional 2 years, totalling 5 years in 500 ltr demi muds on full lees, no racking or sulphur for the full elevage. Only bottled in Magnum.