Clos Mont Olivet

Clos du Mont Olivet

Company: Les Fils de Joseph Sabon
Les Fils: Jean-Claude, Pierre and Bernard Sabon
Address: Avenue Saint Joseph 15, 84231 Chateauneuf du Pape Cedex.
Tel. 490 837 246
Direct sale: Chemin Bois la Ville 3 Monday - Friday 8.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00.
E-mail: clos.montolivet@wanadoo.fr
Web: http://www.clos-montolivet.com/

The founder of what became Clos Mont Olivet was Romain Jausset the father-in-law of Seraphin Sabon, who inherited what Jausset had bought of fields in Chateauneuf du Pape. The next generation was Joseph Sabon whose name is still represented in the name of the company: Les Fils de Joseph Sabon. Joseph Sabon had three sons: Jean-Claude, Pierre, and Bernard Sabon. The next generation are now running the domain. Thierry Sabon is responsible for the winemaking and in other matters David, Celine and Mylene play their role.

The domain has 28 hectares of Chateauneuf du Pape. Two of them are for white wine. To the North they have parcels in Le Pied de Baud. I the Eastern sector in lieu-dit Montolivet they own more than 80-years-old fields with Grenache from where the backbone of La Cuvée du Papet is made. These fields of 9 hectares have given name to the domain. To the South they have parcels in Les Gallimardes.
30 kilometres north of Chateauneuf du Pape near Bollene they own 17 hectares of Cotes du Rhone.

The buildings of the domain are situated at different places in the town and perhaps they need more space to make wines from 45 hectares. In 2005-06 the buildings at Chemin Bois la Ville 3 were renovated: Office, tastingroom and storing room for the bottled wines.

From the left:
Bernard, Pierre, Joseph and Jean-Claude Sabon

The domain has a traditional approach to make Chateauneuf du Pape. They only use partial destemming and the barrels or foudres are quite old.

Wines:

Chateauneuf du Pape La Cuvée du Papet
The blend might vary depending of the harvest. In 2005 97% of Grenache was used. In 2003 only 70% Grenache was used.
Selection from parcels at Montolivet, La Crau, Bois Dauphin and Pied de Baud.
The share from very old Grenache vines might vary.
Ageing at first in beton tank end then in foudres. Production: around 12.000 bt.

Chateauneuf du Pape
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre and 4% Cinsault,
Counoise, Vaccarese, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Picpoul Noir.
The vines are situated at 15 different lieux-dits
Ageing at first in beton tank end then in foudres. Production: around 40.000 bt.

Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
30% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, 25% Roussanne, 14% Picpoul Blanc and 1% Picardin. Roussanne is fermented and aged in one-year-old barriques and the rest in steel tank. Production around 8.250 bt.

Cotes du Rhone Serre de Catin
100% Grenache.
Aged in enamelled tank for 8-10 months Production around 3.500 bt.

Cotes du Rhone Varéne
100% Syrah.
70% aged in foudres and 30% in older barriques. Production around 7.000 bt.

Cotes du Rhone Montueuil-la Levade
80% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Syrah. Matured in cement tank
Production around 24.000 bt.

Cotes du Rhone Font de Blanche
60% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 2% Cinsault.
Matured in cement tank or foudres. Production around 50.000 bt.

Cotes du Rhone Blanc Font de Blanche

The new generation of Sabons at Clos du Mont Olivet:
From the left: David, Mylene, Celine and Thierry Sabon
Photo: the domaine.

The ageing cellar at Avenue Saint Joseph 15