Domaine Clovallon Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir from Domaine de Clovallon is a remarkable outlier in the Languedoc, a region known for its sun-drenched reds, offering a cool-climate, high-altitude expression of Pinot that rivals many more northerly examples in energy and precision. Planted at 400–450 meters elevation in the Orb Valley at the foot of the Cévennes, the vines grow in limestone scree and marl, which provide excellent drainage and impart a pronounced mineral backbone. Winemaker Catherine Roque, a pioneer of organic viticulture in the region, has farmed the estate without chemicals since the 1980s, working by hand and focusing on site transparency and minimal intervention in the cellar. The Pinot is fermented with indigenous yeasts, often with partial whole-cluster inclusion, and aged in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak, allowing the grape’s natural aromatics and structure to shine through. It’s beautifully perfumed, with wild raspberry, red currant, rose petal, and orange peel, along with subtle notes of garrigue, wet stone, and dried tea leaf. The palate is light and linear, carried by juicy acidity and delicate, chalk-dusted tannins. There's a nervy alpine lift to the wine yet it maintains a rustic edge that reflects its southern roots. More than just a curiosity, Clovallon’s Pinot Noir is a serious, site-driven wine that bridges the gap between the structure of Burgundy and the wild aromatic expression of the Mediterranean. It’s especially compelling with dishes that echo its herbal and mineral notes, think grilled trout with fennel, roast chicken with herbes de Provence, or a summer salad with goat cheese. Age-worthy for 5–7 years, but irresistible now for lovers of pure, unadorned Pinot Noir.