This cool site’s spicy, tensile Syrah keeps “Malacare” fresh and balanced, harmonizing beautifully with the mineral-marked Grenache and the savory Carignan. Fruit of cherries and wild black cap raspberries are pure and elegant along with floral, earth and spice notes. It is medium plus in weight with rounded tannins.

Bastide du Claux was founded by Sylvain Morey, the son of Jean-Marc Morey, a high quality vigneron in Chassagne-Montrachet (Burgundy).  Thoughtful and strong-minded Sylvain left Burgundy determined to find his own way, settling down south in the historical but lesser-known region of the Luberon.  The estate was born in 2002 and is located in the gorgeous hills of western Provence, in the heart of the Luberon National Park. Sylvain works a diverse group of parcels totaling 17 hectares (42 acres), planted to 14 different varietals scattered throughout the region.  After the retirement of his father in 2014, he now splits his time with Burgundy.
The vineyards of the Luberon are relatively high, at 400-450m above sea level, and benefit from cooler temperatures compared with other parts of Provence and the Southern Rhone.  This unique climate makes the Luberon an excellent location for producing reds that retain a freshness and bite. Sylvain claims that upon his arrival in the Luberon, there were few if any producers bottling their own wines, the vast majority of the production made by local cooperatives.  
Sylvain’s Burgundian heritage really shows in his high standards of production.  Harvests here can be quite late because of the cooler and relatively dry climate. Farming is organic and hand harvested grapes come from old vines with naturally low yields. Fermentations are allowed to start on their own with indigenous yeasts.  He attempts to do a gentle extraction for the reds with a minimal amount of remontage (pumping over) and no pigeage (punching down) in order not to over extract.  Once fermentations are complete, the wine is aged mostly in concrete for roughly a year, with the Syrah partly aged in large barrels before being bottled.

Charcuterie, Hearty stew, Lamb, Mushrooms, Pork, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Wild Game