Domaine Le Clos des Cazaux Vacqueyras Cuvée des Templiers 2023

Domaine Clos des Cazaux has been growing wine for five generations and is based on two families, the Vaches and the Archimbauds. The domaine is now run by two brothers, Jean-Michel and Frédéric Vache. Their ancestor, Gabriel Archimbaud was the first to bottle wine in Vacqueyras. Gabriel created Le Clos des Cazaux in 1936. Today the domaine cultivates 48 ha (122 acres), of which 24 ha are in Vacqueyras, 20 ha are in Gigondas and 4 ha are in Côtes du Rhône. Since 2021, Jean-Michelle no longer ploughs the vineyards in order to improve soil health, increase biodiversity and aid water retention on slopes. Natural grasses are cut during the season and the resulting mulch reduces evaporation. The Gigondas terroir is located on the small section of the appellation that is south facing which brings riper, bigger fruit than is generally found in the other wines of the appellation. Cazaux’s Gigondas soils are very high in limestone content which underpin a great mineral edge to their two cuvées. The Prestige cuvée made from old vines is partially aged in oak which provides additional complexity without over-powering the expression of terroir in the wine.