Strate 2024 Clos Constantin | Languedoc

Clos Constantin’s Strate cuvée is the wine estate’s most mineral-driven wine, made from 95% white and gray Grenache and 5% Vermentino. This Languedoc white wine is grown on the clay-limestone terroir of the “Champs de Traversiers,” one of the wine estate’s three plots, renowned for being one of the coolest in the appellation. Pierre Halley and Samuel Durand, who co-founded Clos Constantin in 2017 before converting their 15 hectares to organic farming, use a winemaking process here that involves no additives, relying on native yeasts, with direct pressing and cold settling.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Clos Constantin’s Strate Blanc confirms the wine estate’s upward trajectory; this 2024 vintage is slightly more pronounced than its predecessor. What stands out is the balance between the briny energy provided by the Vermentino and the tactile fullness of the two Grenache varieties—a rare duality that gives this white wine an almost vertical dimension. The wine remains perfectly approachable, underscoring the wine estate’s contemporary style, rooted in precision rather than showmanship.

The nose opens with white peach, almond blossoms, citrus, and subtle herbaceous notes. With aeration, it gains depth and reveals more complex notes of citrus zest, wild fennel, and fresh almond, without ever becoming heavy.

The Vermentino imparts its briny energy, while the white and gray Grenache varieties contribute body and a velvety smoothness. The palate, fresh and finely crafted, is distinguished by an elegant texture and pronounced minerality. The long, lingering finish leaves an impression of mineral freshness and damp stone, reflecting the terroir’s character.