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2023 Clos Lointain The Spectra Grenache IGP Cotes Catalanes 6pk 6x750ml

98-point Grenache from 70- to 90-year-old vines on fractured black schist in the Catalan hills.

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2023 Clos Lointain The Spectra Grenache IGP Cotes Catalanes 6pk 6x750ml

98-point Grenache from 70- to 90-year-old vines on fractured black schist in the Catalan hills.

Retail $480
$450
$75 / bottle when you buy the 6-pack
You save $30
  • From 100pt Winemaker Todd Alexander
  • "A Totally Stunning Wine That Will Rival Any Top CdP" ~98 Owen Bargreen
  • 70- To 90-Year-Old Vines On Fractured Black Schist
  • La Coumo Estate Vineyard, Catalan Hills, North-Facing Slope
  • Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles.
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Image of 2023 Clos Lointain The Spectra Grenache IGP Cotes Catalanes 6pk 6x750ml 2023 Clos Lointain The Spectra Grenache IGP Cotes Catalanes 6pk 6x750ml
$480
$450
$75 / bottle when you buy the 6-pack
You save $30

About The Wine

Clos Lointain's The Spectra Grenache comes from La Coumo Estate Vineyard in the Catalan hills — 70- to 90-year-old vines clinging to fractured black schist on a north-facing slope.

Ancient-vine Grenache from stony, high-altitude sites delivers the kind of tension and mineral clarity that makes Chateauneuf-du-Pape collectors pay triple. This is that wine, from a tiny producer few people know about yet.

The blend is 95% Grenache with 5% Grenache Gris for aromatic lift. Fully destemmed fruit fermented slowly for up to 30 days on skins in concrete, then raised 14 months in neutral oak. Native yeasts, unfined, unfiltered — the winemaking is invisible by design. What you taste is 80-year-old vines and black schist, nothing else.

Wild strawberry, redcurrant, blood orange. White pepper, dried thyme, crushed rock. The palate is focused and intense — precise acidity, supple tannins, and a lingering mineral note that echoes the stony soils. Owen Bargreen scored it 98 and called it "a totally stunning wine that will rival any top CDP." That's not hyperbole. This is amongst the finest Grenache he's tasted from the region.

312 cases produced. Drinking beautifully now through 2039. Pull the cork tonight — it'll still be hitting its stride a decade from now.

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At A Glance

Varietal:
Grenache (Garnacha)
Region:
Roussillon
Sub-Appellation:
Cotes Catalanes
Alcohol:
13.5%
Size:
750ml

TASTING NOTES

What's in the Glass

PAIRS WITH
Grilled Meat · Lamb · Barbecue · Poultry · Meat

Mouthfeel & Acidity

Light Body Full Body
 
 
 
 
 
Low Acidity High Acidity
 
 
 
 
 
Soft Tannins Firm Tannins
Dry Sweet

Aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant, and blood orange with subtle hints of white pepper, dried thyme, and crushed rock. The palate is powerful and intense with serious tension, weight, and texture — mouth-watering acidity, supple tannins, and a lingering mineral note that echoes the stony soils. Full-bodied, heady, and pure.

CRITIC REVIEWS

What the Critics Said

The fabulous 2023 Clos Lointain ‘The Spectra’ Grenache comes from their La Coumo Estate Vineyard, where 70–90yearold vines that are set on fractured black schist in the Catalan hills. This was all destemmed and come from a north facing slope, with 5% Grenache Gris blended in. Ultrapure red fruits combine with shades of Mandarin orange rind, garrigue and suggestions of scorched earth. The palate is powerful and intense with serious tension, weight and texture. This is loaded with mouthwatering acidity. Fullbodied, heady and intense, this is a totally stunning wine that will rival any top CDP. ~98 Owen Bargreen

This is a bold bottling from the folks behind Oregon's Holocene brand, showing dark violet, black plum and caramelized berry aromas on the nose. The palate is rich with toasty notes but also fresh with hints of smashed berry, as a light licorice spice leads through a finish of sandy tannins. ~ 92 Wine Enthusiast

THE PRODUCER

Clos Lointain

Clos Lointain (pronounced cloh lwan-tahn) translates to "Distant Enclosure" or "Faraway Vineyard" — a name that evokes a quiet, hidden place where something special is grown with care.

Founded by Todd and Carrie Alexander, the project took shape in 2022 when they acquired two estate vineyards in the Roussillon region of southeastern France, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where 60- to 80-year-old vines grow on ancient schist and slate soils, dry-farmed and certified organic. Working alongside local partners Jean-Roger and Marie Calvet of Thunevin-Calvet in the village of Maury, Clos Lointain focuses on terroir-driven varieties including Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, Carignan, and Macabeo, producing wines that are fresh, textural, and built to age.

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