Need Help Finding the right wine?
Your personal wine consultant will assist you with buying, managing your collection, investing in wine, entertaining and more.
2020 Clos du Chatelard Villeneuve Pinot Noir Cuvee des Sens
97 DEC
As low as:
$29.99
As low as:
Critic Reviews
Fine, delicate and inviting, with pretty aromas of hibiscus, tea, red cherry and red berry, while the textured palate is graced with shapely tannins, savoury beetroot notes, smoky cedar and lush, rich red fruit.
Decanter | 97 DEC
Decanter | 97 DEC
Wine Details for 2020 Clos du Chatelard Villeneuve Pinot Noir Cuvee des Sens
| Type of Wine | Switzerland Red |
|---|---|
| Varietal |
Pinot Noir
: As one of the oldest grape varieties in the world, Pinot Noir has a long and storied history which began more than 2,000 years ago. This story spans form the time of ancient Roman influence to modern day trailblazing; Old World and New World grape growing. It also involves the most unlikely of “characters” from Cistercian Monks to the Holy Pope and even Hollywood actors; each playing a part in the development of the Noble Pinot Noir grape variety. For a grape that appears simple on the surface, it may be one of the most complex varietals on earth, playing a major role in the formation of some of the most profound and distinguished winegrowing regions in the world. Pinot Noir’s exact origin remains relatively unknown as it is far too ancient to have been recorded precisely. It is thought to have been cultivated in the rocky hillsides of Burgundy by Roman hands as early as the 1st Century AD. At that time, Roman agronomist Columella identified and tasted wine that very much seems to be consistent with today’s description of Pinot Noir. There are complex theories on how either the Greeks or Romans took cuttings of Vitis Vinefera (Pinot Noir) from the area of Transcaucasia (modern day Turkey, Iraq and Iran) and brought the wild vines to France. Speculation aside, what we do know is that the wine-loving ancient Romans spread their dominion far and wide, leaving grapevines in their wake. Their innovative devotion to cultivating wine in French soil set in motion, nurtured, and influenced the winegrowing culture that we very much enjoy today. Around 1000 AD, long after the dismantling of the Roman Empire, the history of Pinot Noir in Burgundy begins to have clarity, greatly due to the extraordinary record keeping of the Cistercian Order of Monks (formed from the Benedictine Order). The Cistercian Monks began gaining authority outside the area of what we know today as Dijon. Devoted to hard labor and prayer, the monks began cultivating the rocky hillsides of early Burgundy, painstakingly documenting detailed records of their vineyards. Centuries of specifying their practices, describing exactly how and exactly where vines thrived or failed and how the resulting wine tasted, the Cistercian Monks unwittingly created the world’s first harvest reports while simultaneously inventing the idea of terroir. These records and the notion that wines reflect their growing locales, permanently shaped the fundamentals of winegrowing and making terroir a critical concept. This concept really gained attention when Pope Urban V refused to return the Papal court to Rome from Avignon due to unavailability of Burgundy wines south of the Alps. The lack of commerce routes inhibiting the Burgundy wine trade did not affect the Cistercian Order of Monks as they were driven towards higher quality and excellence through religious devotion instead of monetary gain. Both the outward remarks of the Pope and diligent efforts by the monks helped place Burgundy in a class of its own. Pinot Noir would eventually spread its wings and infiltrate Champagne, Loire and Alsace, Provence, Sancerre and Languedoc, finding hospitable terroir and new purposes along the way. From bubbles to “pink” wine, it adapted to the soil, revealing the terroir through the wine itself. The early developments and manipulation of the Pinot Noir grape within France was a precursor for the inevitable. The varietal spread through Europe and eventually making a trip around the globe landing in the Willamette Valley, Oregon (planted in 1965 by David Lett). The Pinot Noir grape quickly found a niche in Willamette Valley where it shares the same latitude of 45 degrees north, experiencing similar sunlight as well as a similar cooler climate to that of Burgundy. A few years later it would be introduced to California where it found terroir hotspots in both cool and surprisingly hotter climates, thus spreading to Napa, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Carneros among others, birthing New World Pinot Noir winemaking. And, of course, there was the Pinot craze that occurred after the release of the movie Sideways which manifested “Pinot snobs” around America. The 2004 American comedy set the market on fire, increasing sales of Pinot Noir in the state of California by 170 percent. The varietal of Pinot Noir thrives in cool climates with terroir consisting of marl and limestone soils of extremely variable composition that mimics that of its ancestral home of Burgundy. For a grape that is notoriously difficult to grow, Pinot Noir is ubiquitous in winegrowing regions around the world, spanning 115,000 hectares. It may be a fussy grape, but when planted in the right location and climate, it reveals the qualities of its host terroir in many different manners. The Noble Pinot Noir grape has greatly impacted the world of winegrowing and making while birthing the concept of terroir; from fruit forward Pinots produced in warmer California localities to New World Oregon wines with Burgundian nuances to Rose in Provence, bubbly in Champagne to the infamous Domaine de la Romanee Conti and its eye watering prices and unrivaled quality. Pinot Noir has long lived the quiet, elegant lifestyle giving Old World winemakers and consumers an ethereal pleasure. New World winemaking has granted it the opportunity for worldwide consumption on any budget and creating the Pinot Phenom. The varietal is now enjoying the best of both “worlds.” |
| Country |
Switzerland
: Switzerland is renowned for its breathtakingly scenic landscapes, including the Swiss Alps, lakes Geneva and Lucerne, quaint villages and fantastic skiing. The country is famous for its fine craftsmanship of high quality knives, luxury watches and the Swiss Army Knife. However, long before music boxes and clocks were being produced, the country was fashioning quality wine. Switzerland may not be recognized as one of the top wine producing countries in world, but it has been cultivating wine grapes for over 2000 years. This lack of fame is not due to any lack of quality or quantity, but because it is produced mostly for, and consumed by the Swiss themselves. Things, however, are changing for the Swiss wine industry, as the world beyond the Alps is now discovering the high quality of wines being made here. Switzerland’s native and key white wine grape, Chasselas, is planted to one-third of all vineyard space and is highly recognizable within the country, and recently, internationally. Varietals such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are beginning to increase in vineyard space and international interest. The landlocked country is highly influence by its neighboring countries, France, Germany, Austria and Italy. Much like its diversity in language and culture, so is its diversity of grape varieties. This is evident by observing the vineyards planted near and around the country’s border. Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer are a reminder of the proximity to Alsace (France) and Germany. This is true in regards to the reds of French origin as well (Pinot Noir, Gamay and Merlot). Austria and Italy are also influence in their own right. Switzerland’s topography is highly suited to a myriad of varietals. Its mountains, terraces and steep slopes provide not only a dramatic landscape, but incredible free-draining soils. The climate is cool overall, but varies dramatically from place to place. Valais enjoys high summer temperatures and abundant sunshine, while Ticino endures frequent storms and high rainfall with some of the country’s highest average temperatures. Each location’s micro-climate and terroir greatly benefit the cultivation of each grape. Today, Switzerland has 16,000 hectares under vine and with a newly implemented, French-style appellation system being implemented, the country’s wine industry is increasing in structure and cognizance. With an annual production of 148 million bottles produced, Switzerland may not yet be comparable to its neighbors’ production, but each of these countries has progressed in their own fashion as well. The future of the Swiss wine industry looks promising and will be exciting to see its evolution into a major exporting nation. |
| Region | Vaud |
| Subregion | Villeneuve |
| Appellation | Villeneuve |
Overview
| Producer | Clos du Chatelard |
|---|