Kaolinite 2024 Clos Constantin | Languedoc

Kaolinite from Clos Constantin is the name Pierre Halley and Samuel Durand chose for their most mineral-driven single-vineyard wine. The Syrah is planted on soils of limestone and kaolin clay. This cuvée was born from the convergence of two paths that, on the surface, seemed unlikely to ever cross. Samuel, from an old Sancerre winemaking family, began his career as a sommelier at a neighborhood wine shop in Paris’s 17th arrondissement before honing his skills at Lavinia in La Madeleine. In 2016, he arrived in the region, met Pierre, and decided to leave everything behind to create the Clos Constantin winery with him, in homage to Pierre’s great-grandfather’s first name. As early as 2017, they released their first vintage and converted their vineyards to organic farming. The wine estate spans 15 hectares spread across three plots: Les Champs de Traversiers, Font-Belette, and Le Jardin, where an olive grove neighbors the rows of Syrah.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: “Kaolinite de Clos Constantin is undoubtedly the cuvée that requires the most patience.” The decision to ferment whole clusters, followed by extended ageing in concrete egg-shaped tanks, allows the full structure and complexity of this Syrah to shine through without ever resorting to oaky notes; this is a very clear artistic choice, prioritizing the purity of the fruit and the clay-limestone terroir. The attack is clean, immediately offering a supremely silky texture, with a freshness that carries the wine through its long finish.

The nose is very open right from the start and gains complexity with aeration, displaying beautiful intensity and great aromatic precision, centered around notes of black fruit and spices. It features notes of black olives, garrigue, and smoked bacon, accompanied by blackberry, clove, and sweet spices.

The palate offers a dense, silky texture, supported by lively structure and a long finish. Freshness is present throughout the tasting, with lovely density and a very smooth mouthfeel. The tannins are firm, built for aging, and do not detract from the long, savory finish.