La Clape report 2023: Latest releases tasted

La Clape 2022 vintage rating: 4 / 5

La Clape 2021 vintage rating: 3.5 / 5

Such is La Clape’s ecological importance that it has been classified three times: it is a natural heritage site, a regional natural park, and a European Union Natura 2000 site. A triple-pronged environmental ranking which, in theory, strongly protects it, and has meant that it remains a relatively wild enclave in what is a highly touristic area.

Despite this protection, one of its main (and increasing) risks is fire. The vegetation across the rocky limestone bluff that forms the La Clape Massif is incredibly dense and dry, and with the sunny, dry, windy weather conditions wild fires can be a major problem. Access to the massif is often blocked off when the risk of fire is high.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top La Clape wines from 2022 & 2021

See all La Clape latest releases rated

2021

The growing season

The frost that hit many other areas of Languedoc in spring had little impact in La Clape, due to the proximity to the sea.

It was an extremely dry year for the appellation, with very little rain and yields were very low.

A significant fire burned through 100ha of land at Château Rouquette sur Mer. Thankfully there were no huge losses, with only one vine that died, except for around 100hl of wine which was severely affected by smoke taint and completely unusable, according to François Bouscary of Château Rouquette sur Mer.

Reds

The reds from 2021 show both power and freshness, although a few are a little awkward and porty. The successes are plump and ripe, supported by good acidity and an aromatic profile that really puts garrigue herbs front and centre.

Languedoc latest releases homepage

2022

The growing season

La Clape’s proximity to the sea tempers the climate, meaning it experiences less extremes, limiting temperature variations. It hardly ever frosts or hails, so the hail alert for some zones in 2022 was an unwelcome surprise. Luckily the impact was limited.

One of the main pressures for growers here is hydric stress; lack of rainfall can be severe, and 2022 was particularly dry, with a long and hot summer. At Château La Négly the harvest started early, at the beginning of August.

Whites

All of the whites featured here are from the 2022 vintage and they possess good concentration of ripe white stone fruit and citrus, and many enjoy distinct honeysuckle and blossom notes. The characteristic iodine note is there in most of them, although many also have an oily richness and a few are showing their alcohol.

Bourboulenc is not only La Clape’s emblematic white variety, it is also its safety net. It is late-ripening, so arrives at maturity when temperatures are a little cooler, preserving its elegant aromatics. It’s well suited to La Clape’s warm, dry conditions and a changing climate.

Top-scoring wines

White

Château Pech Redon, Epervier 2022 – 93 points

Château Rouquette sur Mer Cuvée Arpege – 92 points

Red

Sarrat de Goundy, La Combe aux Louves 2021 – 92 points

Château L’Hospitalet, Grand Vin 2021 – 91 points

Château Pech Redon, Epervier 2020 – 91 points

Sarrat de Goundy, La Planteur 2021 – 91 points

See the Languedoc latest releases score tables:

All top-scoring wines

All top-scoring white wines

All top-scoring red wines

Top five value wines

Château Rouquette sur Mer Cuvée Arpege – 92 points

Château La Negly La Brise Marine – 92 points

Cave La Clape L’Empreinte – 90 points

Sarrat de Goundy, Le Moulin 2021 – 90 points

Château Combe des Ducs, Pierres de Mer 2021 – 90 points

Individual appellation analyis:

Limoux | Corbières & Minervois | St-Chinian | Faugères | Picpoul de Pinet | Terrasses du Larzac | Pic St Loup

Top five producers to look out for

Château Rouquette sur Mer

Less than 1km as the crow flies from the blue waters of the Mediterranean, the vineyards stretch back from the château up onto the limestone chunk that is the La Clape massif. Standing in the vineyard looking seaward, buffeted by the marine breezes, it’s not hard to imagine why the wines have a distinct saline tang.

Château les Bugadelles

Some good wines coming out of this organic estate.

Combes des Ducs

A fourth-generation domaine with 50ha of vines making whites, reds, and even some sweet Muscats.

Sarrat de Goundy

Not only is the restaurant well worth a visit, but the wines are also very good, expressive and fine.

Château Pech Redon

A stalwart in the region, Château Pech Redon continues to produce refined, ageworthy wines.

Tasting notes and scores for the top La Clape latest releases:

The wines below are listed by score.

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