In the glass
Aroma: wild herb, black pepper, black cherry, violet
Palate: plum, iron, garrigue, Mediterranean salt
Folle Noire-led Bellet red from biodynamic vineyards in the hills above Nice. Wild-herb, peppery and saline; the rare urban-Provence red.
What it pairs with
-
Daube nicoise
Long-braised Provencal beef with red wine, garlic and orange peel finds a peer in the wine's iron and garrigue. -
Roast saddle of lamb with herbes de Provence
Medium tannins frame the lamb fat; the wild-herb register lifts the herb crust. -
Aged Tomme de Provence
Sheep's milk Provencal tomme picks up the wine's salt and garrigue without overwhelming the fruit.
History
The Sicardi and Sergi families acquired Clos Saint Vincent in 1993 and converted to biodynamic agriculture. Le Clos Rouge is the estate's flagship red, built around the heritage Bellet grape Folle Noire (also called Fuella Nera).
- 1993 — Sicardi-Sergi families acquire Clos Saint Vincent
- 2003 — Estate certified organic and biodynamic
Facts
- Producer
- Clos Saint Vincent
- Grapes
- Folle Noire (50%), Grenache (35%), Braquet (15%)
- Classification
- Bellet AOC
- Oak
- Aged in old oak demi-muids and foudres for 12 to 18 months, no new oak
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 50 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1993
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Frequently asked about Clos Saint Vincent Le Clos Rouge
What does Clos Saint Vincent Le Clos Rouge taste like?
Wild herb, black pepper, black cherry and violet on the nose; plum, iron, garrigue and Mediterranean salt on the palate. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Clos Saint Vincent Le Clos Rouge?
Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. The Folle Noire grape rewards mid-term cellaring; younger bottles benefit from 45 minutes of decanting.
What grapes are in Clos Saint Vincent Le Clos Rouge?
Folle Noire (locally called Fuella Nera) dominates around half the blend, with Grenache and the heritage Braquet making up the rest. Folle Noire is one of the rare indigenous grapes of the tiny Bellet AOC above Nice.
What food pairs with Clos Saint Vincent Le Clos Rouge?
Daube nicoise is the canonical pairing; the slow-braised beef with red wine and garlic meets the wine's iron and garrigue. Lamb with herbes de Provence and aged Tomme are equally strong matches.