Domaine du Clos des Fées : Les Sorcières Blanc 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Domaine du Clos des Fées Blanc 2024

Tasting

Colour
Clear and brilliant, the colour reveals a pale gold hue enhanced by delicate green highlights.

Nose
Elegant and beautifully complex, the nose opens with aromas of white flowers such as hawthorn and acacia, mingled with notes of white-fleshed fruit like peach and pear. With aeration, subtle mineral touches of flint and chalk emerge, complemented by a slight brioche nuance and hints of fresh herbs.

Palate
The attack is lively, fresh and creamy. The palate seduces with its generous roundness and precise balance, underpinned by a beautiful vibrant tension. It unfolds fruity and subtly spicy flavours before stretching into a lingering finish, marked by a remarkable saline minerality.

Food and wine pairing

Ideal with Mediterranean cuisine, this white wine pairs wonderfully with a seafood platter, shellfish or grilled wild white fish served with beurre blanc. It will also enhance bolder dishes such as monkfish tagine with preserved lemons, spicy Indian or Thai dishes, as well as raw fish preparations like ceviche or tuna tartare.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to serve the Domaine du Clos des Fées Blanc 2024 at a temperature of between 8 and 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed young for its freshness, and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2028.

The authentic expression and mineral freshness of a Côtes du Roussillon wine

The estate

Nestled in the heart of the Agly valley in Roussillon, Domaine du Clos des Fées was founded in 1998 by Hervé Bizeul, a former sommelier, and his wife Claudine, the current owners. Starting from scratch with just a few acres of vines, they have elevated the estate to become one of the leading references in the region. The domaine stands out for its philosophy combining tradition, absolute respect for the environment and innovation. Through hard work and a meticulous plot-by-plot approach, the vineyard now produces authentic cuvées that fully express the richness of their Mediterranean terroir.

The vineyard

Located within the Côtes du Roussillon appellation, the vineyard spans a mosaic of seven distinct terroirs surrounding the village of Vingrau and its limestone cliffs. The vines, planted at altitudes ranging from 200 to 400 metres, benefit from north- and west-facing exposures as well as the cooling influence of the valley winds. The soils are highly diverse, combining clay-limestone, white Urgonian limestone, schist and granite. Farmed using sustainable agriculture, the estate practices regular ploughing and rigorous green harvesting within a vast preserved ecosystem, ensuring exceptionally pure, hand-harvested grapes.

The vintage

The year 2024 was marked by extreme climatic conditions, with a third consecutive year of severe water deficit resembling desert-like drought. Faced with this unprecedented water stress, a massive manual irrigation effort was implemented to safeguard the highest-quality plots. Despite losing part of the vineyard and drastically reduced yields, the resilience of the vines and the efforts made resulted in grapes of remarkable balance and quality.

Winemaking and aging

The creation of the Domaine du Clos des Fées Blanc 2024 begins with whole-bunch pressing at low temperature to preserve the full freshness of the juices. After light settling, fermentation takes place at low temperature in stainless steel tanks, relying exclusively on indigenous yeasts. The wine then undergoes a few months of ageing on fine lees, giving it roundness and complexity, before being gently clarified through fining with natural clay.

Grape varieties

This blend is composed of Grenache Blanc (40%), Vermentino (30%), Roussanne (20%) and Maccabeu (10%).