The Clos Bagatelle is a brother-sister act. Christine and Luc Deleuze tend the family vineyards in and around St. Chinian — high ground at the northwest edge of the vast Languedoc region. Like Pic St. Loup on the eastern edge, St. Chinian is up in the hills, and thus blessed with cool nights and generally better temperatures than the winemakers down on the plains. There are four distinct terroirs on the family property, each producing wine of different character.
Our choices have usually been from the Domaine’s original terroir, mostly of limestone soils. These are rich red wines, blends of Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, and Mourvedre. The traditional cuvée, now named “A l’Origine,” is aged in tank and large casks. It is dominated by its dark fruit and provençal spice, and drinks easily from the time it is bottled. “Au Fil de Soi” (formerly “Veillée d’Automne”) is from the same varietals but more complex, with some pepper and licorice to go with the fruit and spice. It is raised in small oak barrels and requires a bit of time to knit together. Recently we added a red from the sandstone soils above the domaine. Colline d’Assignan is all grenache, a robust and flavorful wine that pairs well with anything from the grill.
