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Château Camplazens

Château Camplazens has become something of an old friend over the years; having reviewed the wines fairly early in Winedoctor's life, and subsequently partaken of a bottle or two at one of my then favourite restaurants the London Carriage Works, I have on occasion had the pleasure of returning to the wines since those early tastes. Whenever I do, the experience has been worthwhile, especially with the Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape cuvées. It is these wines that form the biggest draw here I think, although the estate produces a range of other cuvées worth exploring.

The Camplazens estate is located in the communal zone of La Clape in the Coteaux du Languedoc, and is the property of British couple Peter and Susan Close. Intent upon settling in the south of France they came across Château Camplazens in the course of their search and somehow they knew immediately that this was the place where they would settle. They made the purchase in 2001, and since then have continued to build up their domaine, with the help of Robert Ferreres in the vineyards and régisseur Yann Claustre in the cellars, overseeing the vinifications.

The Camplazens estate covers 111 hectares in all, although only 42 hectares of this are committed to the vine. The soils are underpinned by the deep limestone of the La Clape mountain of course, the distinctive terroir that makes this place one of the more desirable addresses for viticulture in the Languedoc. The vines are of a good age in many cases, with some particularly aged Carignan, and they include (alongside the Carignan) the traditional Languedoc crowd, with 38.8 hectares of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, as well as a plot of Marselan, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache eligible for vin de pays only. Of note there are also 3.2 hectares of Viognier, a rather distinctive cultivar for such a warm, southern clime. Across the estate yields are restricted to between 35 and 45 hl/ha, with a mix of hand and machine harvesting, and fermentation in oak and steel according to the cuvée in question. One-third of the Viognier goes into new French oak, whereas the rest is fermented in steel. The reds meanwhile see a macerations before and after fermentation in steel with malolactic, followed by running off into a mix of new and second-year oak for the élevage.

There is a fascinating mix of traditional and innovative styles of wine produced at Château Camplazens. There are four red cuvées bottled under the Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape appellation, and undoubtedly it is these wines that are of most interest. La Garrigue is the entry-level for the appellation, a blend of Carignan and other Languedoc varieties, whereas the next step up - La Reserve - is restricted to the 'improving varieties', namely Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. One-time top of the range, Premium is predominantly Syrah (typically 85%), with 10% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre. A more recently introduced cuvée is perhaps now top of the tree though; named Julius, after Caesar himself who apparently demanded the wines of la Clape for his table, this is a 100% Syrah cuvée. The only white produced is a varietal Viognier, bottled as a vin de pays and made in small quantities, typically 600 cases per annum. There is also a range of varietal vin de pays bottlings, featuring Syrah, Carignan, Grenache and Marselan, which may be worth exploring. (12/2/04, updated 25/2/11)

Contact details:
Address: 11110 Armissan
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 68 45 38 89
Fax: +33 (0) 4 68 45 59 70
Internet: www.camplazens.com

Château Camplazens - Tasting Notes

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Château Camplazens Grenache (VdP d'Oc) 2009: This is 100% Grenache. A youthful plum-red hue in the glass with a pink rim. More suggestions of plum on the nose also, with a fresh and papery edge to the fore, with richer notes of prunes and spicy wood to be found coming up from behind. Quite a cool style on entry, with lots of squashed plum character, quite plump with good substance, and a spicy prune fruit edge here also, but also notes of heavily-sooted embers, smoked cherries and touches of caramel. There are some surprisingly dry structural elements to it which give it some backbone and grip, but there is still a little distracting oiliness apparent on the finish. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. 13.5/20 (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Viognier (VdP d'Oc) 2008: A pale golden hue. A very varietally true nose, all apricot, peach skin and pine kernel, quite heady, perfumed and bold in style. This character comes through on the palate also, a bold and full, firmly polished billiard ball of a wine, round and substantial. There is a heady perfume like the nose, and plenty of grip, all backbone and the bitter skin of stone fruits. There is gentle acidity here, although it is rather hard to find, and for me this does detract a little from the balance of the wine. The aromatics are certainly enticing, crowd-pleasing even, but the lack of an obvious acid cut prevents me coming back for another glass. I do like the character on the length though, with its rolling notes of orange zest and peach. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. 14/20 (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Syrah (VdP d'Oc) 2008: A much denser hue than the preceding Carignan and Grenache cuvées here, and still with a youthful raspberry-pink rim. Remarkably bright and perfumed on the nose, showing all the crushed raspberry and cranberry fruit of a young, fruit-driven style but it even has a tinge of orange oil swirled in with the shining essence of the fruit, a style which rather reminds me aromatically of d'Arenberg's McLaren Vale fortified Shiraz (which I haven't tasted for a few years!). A good substance on the palate, rich, glossy but not over-done, nicely composed and substantial. Quite well held together, and with a good grip of ripe and supple tannins underneath it all. Nice length too. A really good effort here which I do like. I suspect it will do for a year or two in the cellar as well. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. 15/20 (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape La Garrigue 2007: A rather decent depth of colour in the glass here. On the nose it starts off with a lot of primary Syrah character at first, all sweet fruit dusted with brown sugar, but this soon relaxes into a broader style, with a good density of cleaner and more characterful fruit. On the palate a good texture, full but not overly robust, with just 12.5% alcohol declared on the label. Solid and full of soft-focus fruit, with a little touch of game, and still with that sweet, slightly baked Demerera note. Plenty of good grip in the finish though, although texturally a little more rustic too. Overall though a good wine which should develop nicely over a year or two, or which can be drunk now. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. 14.5/20 (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape La Réserve 2007: A very dark hue in the glass, glossy and yet impenetrable. The nose carries the paradox of bright fruit yet in a very dark, withdrawn, style, sweetly ripe blackberries tinged with soot and smoke along with a meaty richess, infused with garrigue herbs, and with time settling into a harmonious whole, laced with black liquorice. Quite solid and with a rather creamy style on entry, with a rather plush layer of fruit running through the middle, but with structural components to the wine that prevent it from sagging under its own weight. There is acidity at the very heart of it, although it seems well hidden at first, becoming more obvious with each sip, and also a light seam of almost fresh and lightly grippy tannins which are certainly well covered by the fruit. In the same vein, quite a bold and bright finish. Nice length too, soft but with lingering spicy tannins. There are a lot of different elements here, not yet totally harmoniously integrated, although given time in the glass it does all come together. Give it time in the cellar though and I think this will drink beautifully. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. 16/20 (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Carignan (VdP d'Aude) 2006: From old vines, 100% Carignan, pruned to lower yields, and fermented using carbonic maceration. More of a dusty hue here, an appealingly dark core with a claretty tinge. Quite striking and off-putting character on the nose though, which is totally dominated by a farmyardy, chicken-shed aroma. NIcely textured on the palate, although from a flavour point of view it seems very stripped-out, not as overtly fecal-feral as the nose suggested, but slowly building to reveal a warm, animally edge at the finish. The likely culprit here is Brettanomyces which has pushed this wine into an undrinkable state for my palate. Of course this bottle may not be typical - that's Brett for you. From a tasting of new releases from Château Camplazens. Not scored. (February 2011)

Château Camplazens Viognier (VdP d'Oc) 2002: A pale wine, with a faint tinge of gold. Plenty of typicity on the nose, with pine kernels and mineral-laden stone fruit in abundance. What impresses on the palate is the acidity - so often missing when tasting this variety - and the delightful balance that follows. There is weight and some texture as well, but fantastic spice and grip too. This is an impressive effort as winemakers outside Condrieu so frequently get it wrong with this variety. 16/20 (February 2004)

Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape La Garrigue 2000: A good colour. Pleasant nose, a touch gravelly, with plenty of garrigue herbs and ripe fruit. Soft spicy tannins surrounded by upfront fruit on the palate. A touch of grip. Short finish. Very nice for current drinking. 15/20 (February 2004)

Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Premium 2000: Dark, glossy, red-black hue. The nose gives little at first, but opens out a little with time, to reveal dark, smoky, black fruits. Behind this there are notes of roasted meat and black pepper. Big, creamy texture on the palate. Like the La Reserve it is showing more texture and structure than fruit and present. There's balance here, with grippy tannin and acidity standing up to the almost opulent mouthfeel. This is another wine which needs time in the cellar. Should be very good indeed in two to three years. 16.5+/20 (February 2004)

Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape La Réserve 1999: Great colour - a deep red-black hue, not quite opaque. It gives little away on the nose at present, offering mere hints of brawny fruit, burnt underbrush, and perhaps some oak. The palate is impressive in terms of texture, which is full, creamy, brawny even, and it surrounds a core of sweet, ripe tannins. At this point in this wine's evolution it is very backward and closed. It needs another year or two in the cellar, by which time I think it will open out into a beautifully fragrant, mature wine. 15.5+/20 (February 2004)