Noble Origins
The origin of the name Saint Patrice dates back to the 18th century under Jean DE POWER, ambassador of Châteauneuf du Pape wines in Ireland. The centuries have shaped the Clos, its vines, and its wines. In 1838, Clos Saint Patrice was known as «one of the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards» (in the 1838 Vaucluse directory). Several writings attest to the reputation of the Clos and it was qualified as «the oldest Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine» in the 1920s. In 2009, Guy Jullian and his son Jérôme bought the Clos. These latest generations of a modest family of winegrowers from Châteauneuf-du-Pape thus became the first owners of a monopoly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
An Encounter
Samuel Montgermont, director of Maison Grandes Serres in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, tasted Clos Saint Patrice wines in 2014. When he discovered the terroir of the Clos, founded on limestone bedrock, he was instantly won over. For him, the Saint Patrice wines reunite all the best qualities that the Châteauneuf-du-Pape designation has to offer: finesse, balance, force, and minerality. Situated at the very heart of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on a soil of rounded pebbles and flint, Clos St Patrice – long forgotten – was reborn thanks to Samuel Montgermont and the Jullian family. In 2015, the Montgermont -Jullian alliance took shape and a new chapter of the Clos Saint Patrice story began.
A Legendary Terroir
The Clos Saint Patrice plot is situated at the very heart of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on an area called Saint-Patrice. It has a great view of the castle which has dominated the village and its vineyard for over 800 years. The Clos benefits from a south facing exposure and is set upon the main Villafranchian terrasse of the designation. The surface of the soil is made up of the remarkable and traditional rounded flint pebbles that contribute to the originality and wealth of the designation. Its soil and subsoil are rich in clay and sand from hill colluvions.This special characteristic gives the terroir of Clos Saint Patrice a strong identity and excellent quality thanks to a perfect balance between the warm and sunny character of the pebbles tempered by the coolness of the clay and the lightness of the sand.
Agriculture that respects its environment
Exceptional Wines
The Clos extends over 1.8 ha and consists of old Grenache and Mourvèdre vines from ancestral massal selections, regularly added to with high quality, certified plants. The Clos is tended according to organic principles and develops thanks to the high standards, precision and patience of Guy and Jérôme Jullian. They have always been attentive to the earth and their vines, using traditional techniques and no chemical weedkillers. With experience and time, their know-how allows them to perfectly master each vine, disbudding at the right moment and working the soil to avoid drought. The old methods such as labouring the earth, making furrows, and plowing down the vines prevail at the Clos. The grapes are exclusively harvested by hand and at optimal maturity before being carefully sorted. The winemaking process is also gentle and natural based on the principle of infusion. Balance, elegance, finesse, and minerality characterise Clos St Patrice.
Vintages and winemaking
2015
A generous vintage. Marked by a hot and dry summer, several heat waves and a couple of summer storms, the 2015 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is generous in colour, structure and maturity
2016
An exceptional vintage. A mild winter and a dry and cool spring. A warm summer, perfectly balanced by cool nights and some rain. Color, intensity, power and balance characterize this 2016 vintage.
2017
Coming soon…
Depending on the vintages, the wines are harvested in whole bunches to extract the high quality tannins and obtain more complex aromas. The process is based on infusion of the solid matter and very gentle pump-overs during winemaking. The aim is to limit extraction as much as possible and allow a long maceration of the grapes to coax out their exquisite subtlety.
Le Clos is exclusively vinified and aged in concrete vats. Its ochre colour reflects the limited extraction. Its force, complexity and elegance perfectly represent the terroir.
The concrete vats make for gentle winemaking at naturally controlled temperatures and the concrete eggs, thanks to their special shape, ensure that the lees remain in perpetual movement. Large, high quality ‘foudre’ barrels from Burgundy are used for the Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Aging in barrels allows the wine to benefit from the properties of wood aging without being overly marked by woody aromas. Fourteen months of aging in vats and barrels give the wines great smoothness and allow them to slowly reach their peak.
Worldwide
The Clos in some photos
Locate us
Contact us
+33.(0)4.90.83.72.22
Avenue Impériale
84230 Châteauneuf-du-Pape