Bastide du Claux was founded by Sylvain Morey, the son of Jean-Marc Morey, our long-adored vigneron in Chassagne-Montrachet. 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. We heard tales over the years of Sylvain’s “experiment” down south, but never found the time to take a closer look at his work. It was not until Sylvain returned to Burgundy, spurred by Jean-Marc’s retirement, to establish his own Domaine in Chassagne-Montrachet, that we were encouraged to make a visit to his small but interesting estate. To our delight, we were presented with a series of excellent wines which combine the elegance and purity of his experience in Burgundy with the unique cepages and terroirs of the Luberon.
Sylvain works a diverse group of parcels totaling 17 ha, planted to 14 different varietals scattered throughout the region.
Bastide du Claux 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 ha, planted to 14 different varietals scattered throughout the region. 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 racy and exciting white wines as well as 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. Many of the growers valued quantity over quality and began to replant vineyards so that they could produce the maximum amount of grapes possible and save money with machine harvesting. These trends made it possible for Sylvain to affordably purchase interesting, low-yielding old-vine parcels that were no longer valued.
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. All of the fruit for Sylvain’s wines is hand-harvested, with a rigorous selection made in the vineyards. Fermentations for white, red, and rosès 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 and no pigeage. Once fermentations are complete, the wines are aged in barrels of various sizes or concrete tanks before being bottled with only minimal filtration when needed.
Farming
Organic certification anticipated in 2021, practicing organic since 2014, organic methods since the estate’s founding.
Treatments
Only copper sulfate
Ploughing
Annual ploughing of the vineyard to maintain soil health
Soils
Southwest and northwest-facing hillsides of clay, silt/sand, and limestone.
Vines
70-year old Ugni Blanc, 65-year old Carignan, 55-year old Grenache and Cinsault, and 25-year old Syrah.
Yields
Old vines naturally lower yields, no green harvest
Harvest
Exclusively by hand, and later than in many other parts of the Rhône and Provence due to the Luberon’s high altitudes. Harvest date shifts dramatically with each vintage.
PURCHASING
Always entirely estate fruit
Fermentation
In concrete vat for rosé and white wines, which undergo direct pressing. Stems have lignified more regularly with climate change, and the red thus sees c. 30% stem retention.
Extraction
Sylvain prefers the gentle effects of pumpovers, and does not seek exaggerated levels of extraction in his wines.
Chaptalization
None
Pressing
Pneumatic pressing
PRESS WINE
- Press wine and free-run wine are, in most vintages, blended prior to élevage. Press wine is included in red wines to bring structure. Rosés are c. 75% free-run wine, 25% press wine.
Malolactic Fermentation
- Not sought for rosés and whites, occuring
Élevage
Rosés are raised entirely in concrete vat; reds and whites age in a combination of concrete vats and neutral wood. Sylvain is transitioning away from neutral barriques to larger, neutral demi-muids.
LEeS
All wines rest on their lees, most for the vast majority of
their élevages.
FINING & FILTRATION
Casein fining for whites and rosés, and diatomaceous earth filtration for all wines
SULFUR
20-25 g/l free, 60-80 g/l total, applied at harvest, during élevage, and at bottling
