Portrait / Clos Puy Arnaud, the Bordeaux rebuilt and corrected!
Unwilling to make wine like his ancestors, Thierry Valette decided to pursue a career in modern dance and jazz. But his roots always come back to him and he settled in 2000 at Clos Puy Arnaud in Belvès-de-Castillon. We met him this year at the Millésime Bio trade show. Portrait and tasting.
When you come from a family that has been making wine for four generations, it is not easy to slip through the cracks. But Thierry Valette decided to follow a singular path before becoming the owner of Clos Puy Arnaud. He enjoys, lives and flourishes in the world of modern dance and jazz. Art, movement, rather than land, rootedness. Then one day, the desire to make wine and to anchor himself in a land he holds dear resurfaced. Dogs don't make cats. One thing leading to another, he sharpened his desires and decided to spend some time at Château Tertre Roteboeuf to receive some advice from François Mitjavile. The opportunity for him to discover biodynamics. A revelation.
Thierry then has the certainty that it is necessary to find a synthesis between the tradition and the elegance of the great wines. The approach of the wine must be more immediate, more on the fruit and the freshness but having the caliber of the local wines. Above all, he is convinced that to make a good wine, winemaker must help each parcel to express itself while taking into account its uniqueness. The only truth is the terroir. In 2000, the installation at Clos Puy Arnaud in Castillon is official. The predominantly limestone soils in the commune of Bèlvès bring a lot of finesse and minerality to the grapes. Those located in the commune of St Genes-de-Castillon are partly in Tuff. More power and tannins thus. Thierry's hopes are fulfilled, as are the plots of land, the majority of which receive the rays of the rising sun, which gives a quality of light very favorable to the vine. A quality and hopes that are found in the bottle. Bravo Thierry! And now a little tasting. Puvée Pervenche 2015 - Clos Puy Arnaud Only a deep work can be at the origin of the elaboration of wines with so much fruity freedom. There is no mistaking it, because despite the structured grape varieties, the wine exists as such and is sufficient on its own without the classic artifices. Fineness and fluidity of the tannins which, although present, leave you with a clean and fresh mouth. Yes Mr. Valette, there is wine there and accessible! To drink soon on the fruity or to wait some time to gain in aromatic complexity. It's up to you to see! Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux - Grand vin 2014 du Clos Puy Arnaud Although in a more Bordeaux spirit by its power, its race, this wine is one of the most seductive wine we had the opportunity to taste lately. Rich, dense, seductive, juicy with young tannins but offering a superb chewiness. The black fruits: blackcurrant, plum are there. The finish is on point, long and worthy of a great wine!
All the wines of Winery are there