Clos Bellane Châteauneuf-du-Pape Urgonien

Winemaker Stéphane Vedeau on the winery

“At Clos Bellane, everything revolves around allowing nature and terroir to express themselves. Our estate sits at around 410 metres above sea level in the northern Rhône Valley, overlooking Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail. The altitude, cool nights and limestone-rich soils help us craft wines with freshness, elegance and character. We work carefully in the vineyards and intervene as little as possible in the cellar. We are not pursuing power for its own sake, but wines in which concentration and finesse come together.”

And on Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

“For our Urgonien, we work with a small vineyard plot of just 1.14 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The name refers to its distinctive Urgonian limestone soils, rich in limestone and fossil remains. Together with the relatively high altitude, this contributes to the freshness and minerality that set this wine apart. We use Grenache and Mourvèdre, hand-harvesting the grapes and fermenting them with indigenous yeasts. The wine ages mainly in concrete vats, with a smaller proportion in used oak barrels, allowing the fruit to shine without being dominated by oak. Ripe red and black fruit, Mediterranean herbs, pepper and earthy notes are supported by soft tannins and a remarkably fresh, mineral finish.”