Clos Puy Arnaud
In the Côtes-de-Castillon
Located in the Côtes-de-Castillon, theClos Puy ArnaudIt overlooks the Dordogne Valley. It is near the Saint-Émilion plateaus. Its cultivation transitioned to organic farming in 2001, then to biodynamic farming in 2004, initially without certification. It obtained AB certification in 2009, to which was addedBiodyvinin 2010.
Thanks in part to this conversion, its wines are constantly improving in quality. The efforts and talent developed at Clos Puy Arnaud are all geared towards fruit, taste, and pleasure. Today, it is exploring its own path, moving away from the sometimes stifling codes and rules of Bordeaux. Thierry Valette has masterfully managed it since 2000, producing wines of great pedigree and high refinement, often considered among the best value wines on the Right Bank.
Thierry Valette
At the head of the enclosure
Although the four generations before him were involved in the wine industry,Thierry ValetteHe did not originally intend to be a winemaker. He attempted an artistic career in modern dance and jazz. It was only later, in 2000, that he decided to take over from his family, starting at Château Pavie, where he remained co-owner for a few years.
He then moved toClos Puy-Arnaudwith the aim of producing natural wines. Thanks to the experience of his ancestors and his interactions with many leading figures in the wine world, he has developed extensive knowledge in the field. Putting this knowledge to good use, he successfully blends the elegance of great Bordeaux wines with the immediate pleasure of the fruit. He is accompanied by the oenologist.Anne CalderoniFrom 2004 to 2010, he shared the day-to-day technical management of the estate with her, giving her free rein to implement a more rigorous and precise redefinition of the wines. It was also under her expert guidance that the estate converted to biodynamic farming.
A luminous vineyard
Freshness and expressiveness
The vineyard covers 12 hectares on a gentle, south-facing slope. Bathed in sunlight, it is nonetheless well-ventilated thanks to a light, frequent breeze and its altitude of 100 meters. The vines thus benefit from welcome freshness. The harvest takes place relatively early. The grape varieties, rather unusual, consist of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. Taking a risk, Thierry plans to plant Malbec and Petit Verdot in the coming years.
The estate produces under the appellationCôtes de CastillonThanks to gentle extraction processes, the wines produced have a power that is always under control. The estate produces four cuvées, the main one beingClos Puy ArnaudA wine that will keep easily for 10 to 15 years. The vintagePeriwinkleThis one, however, deserves 3-4 years of aging to allow the wine to fully develop. It already possesses a very fine structure and a long finish. The latest vintages,BistroAndThe Elms, focus more on the fruit. Les Ormeaux, composed of 75% Merlot, is the most recent, having only existed since 2014. This cuvée is more accessible at a younger age; it is, in a way, the second wine of the estate.
