Cotes du Rhone Villages Valreas by Clos Bellane 2017

Clos Bellane is a small, unique domaine situated high in the hills outside Valréas, in the northernmost section of the Southern Rhône. In this area, pure limestone slopes are found among the rolling hills, peaking at over 400m of altitude. Through a combination of organic farming and cool climate fruit, the wines of this remarkable estate achieve a balance and purity of the highest calibre.

Talented winemaker Stephane Vedeau purchased Clos Bellane in 2010 with the dream of making a fresher style of Côtes du Rhône Villages. He struck gold when he came to Valréas and found Clos Bellane sitting high above the village. Seeing the potential in these steep and high elevation sites, he immediately converted the entire property to organic farming, with Ecocert certification achieved a few years later.

With immaculate fruit at his disposal, he knew that a deft touch and minimalist approach was necessary in the cellar. Extraction is kept to an absolute minimum to allow the terroir to express itself fully, only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation. Aging is done in a combination of tank, concrete, and large older barrels. The result is a lineup of wines with an astounding delicacy, freshness and vibrancy. In a short time, Stephane has vaulted this small domaine to the forefront of cool climate winemaking in the Southern Rhône.