Clos Saouma Arioso 2015 - Chateauneuf du Pape

97 points - Jeb Dunnuck

Arioso is made exclusively from the Grenache Noir grape, which comes 100% from the Clos Saoumas parcel in 'lieu dit' Pignan. The place is known for producing wines with great finesse and crispness, hence the name 'Arioso', which means singing or airy in the world of music!

The grapes are crushed without destemming and after 11 days of cold maceration in tanks, the alcoholic fermentation is allowed to start naturally, without the addition of yeast. After about 10 days of fermentation, the 'vin de goutte' is allowed to drain on its own and the rest of the mash is gently pressed in a vertical press. After pressing, the must is filled directly into oak barrels from the Jupilles forest in the Loire and the barrels are moved to a colder place in the cellar so that the malolactic fermentation does not begin too early. It may start when the summer after the harvest arrives. The wine is matured for 36 months without racking. The wine has a very dark, ruby ​​red color.

The aroma is still very closed, but with oxygenation in the glass you can sense deep and complex fruit nuances of dark berries, licorice and classic spices, but also fresher tones of red berries (currants) at the end. The wood character still comes through a lot. The taste is still violent and unpolished, dominated by tannin, but the complexity and depth are there.

This is a wine that takes time!

Since the wine is bottled directly from the cask without clarification or filtration, it may contain some sediment and pressure, which is why it is important to decant/aerate the wine before serving.

Contents: 75 cl
Alcohol: 14.5%
Grape: 100% Grenache