Description
Clos du Mont-Olivet traces its roots to the Sabon family, who have nurtured vines in the Rhône Valley since 1547. Established in 1932 near Châteauneuf-du-Pape's storied papal ruins, the estate initially sold grapes in bulk to négociants until after World War II, when founder Joseph Sabon began bottling their own wines from storied stony terroirs like La Crau and Montalivet. Today, siblings Thierry, David, Celine, and Mylène Sabon carry forward this multigenerational legacy—farming centenarian vines (once plowed by horses into the 1970s), employing partial destemming since 1997, and aging in cement tanks and foudres to craft their signature harmonious, Grenache-led blends.
The 2021 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape pours a deep garnet hue, unfurling ripe kirsch, blackberry compote, and sun-baked garrigue on the nose, laced with Provençal herbs, licorice root, and dusty river stones. Medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity, the palate layers red plum, clove-spiced Syrah lift, and Grenache-driven violet pastille against a core of graphite minerality and subtle oak vanillin—finishing long with balsamic warmth and candied orange peel. A harmonious, ageworthy classic from old-vine blends on the estate's stony terroir.
