Clos de la Simonette by Mas Champart

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninfirm

Aciditymedium

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2019: best 2024 to 2037.

vintage5 yrs18 yrs20 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
RVF reviewed 2023	2019	93/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninMedium acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black plum, leather, garrigue, violet, iron

Palate: black fruit, graphite, tobacco, firm tannin, long mineral finish

Mas Champart's flagship cuvee since 2000: 65% Mourvedre from massale selection originating at Domaine Tempier (Bandol), blended with 70-110 year-old Carignans and Grenache, aged 85% in demi-muid.

What it pairs with

Aged ribeye with smoked salt
Firm Mourvèdre tannins cut aged beef; iron and graphite meet smoked salt.
Wild boar civet
Game's depth finds the wine's leather and tobacco core.
Aged Manchego
Hard sheep cheese crystals complement the wine's mineral finish.
Slow-roasted leg of lamb with herbes de Provence
Garrigue echoes the herbs; full body handles slow-cooked lamb.

How to serve Clos de la Simonette

Allow 90 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving for vintages under 10 years old; pour into a wide decanter so the Mourvèdre-led tannins and leather notes can integrate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature is the band. Mourvèdre shuts down below 15; above 19 the alcohol pushes forward over the iron register.
Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style or Burgundy-style bowl for the wide aromatics of Mourvèdre and old-vine Carignan.
Pair with the food. Aged ribeye with smoked salt, wild boar civet, or aged Manchego. The wine wants slow-cooked fat and savoury depth.

History

Clos de la Simonette is the flagship of Mas Champart, dominated by Mourvèdre from massale selections originating at Domaine Tempier in Bandol. The Carignans are 70 to 110 years old. 85% aged in demi-muid, 15% in tank.

2000: First vintage of Clos de la Simonette

Facts

Producer: Mas Champart · visiting guide
Grapes: Mourvèdre (65%), Grenache (20%), Carignan (15%)
Classification: AOC Saint-Chinian
Oak: 85% in demi-muid (French oak), 15% in stainless steel tank
ABV: 14.5%
Price: €30-40 at retail
Drinking window: 5-18 from vintage
First vintage: 2000
Vegan: Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Clos de la Simonette

What does Clos de la Simonette taste like?

Black plum, leather, garrigue, violet and iron on the nose; black fruit, graphite, tobacco, firm tannin and a long mineral finish on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.

When should I drink Clos de la Simonette?

Drink between 5 and 18 years from vintage. Younger bottles benefit from 90 minutes of decanting; Mourvèdre integrates slowly.

What food pairs with Clos de la Simonette?

Aged ribeye with smoked salt is the canonical match; wild boar civet and aged Manchego are equally strong pairings.

What grapes are in Clos de la Simonette?

65% Mourvèdre (from Domaine Tempier massale selection), 20% Grenache, 15% Carignan (70-110 year-old vines).

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