Clos Bateau

When Thierry and Sylvie first arrived, some of the vineyards totalling 5.5 hectares were productive but a smaller portion of that (2.5 hectares) were wild, abandoned old vines - the couple didn’t feel right about tearing it out, so instead they work very hard to tend the abandoned vines, resulting in very low yields but some top quality and grapes with a story! This Clos Bateau wine can be seen in the bottle called 'Sauvage', which is very limited in production.

Their philosophy is to work with nature, not against it, and they put a huge emphasis on biodiversity .They have planted over 100 fruit and nut trees amongst the vineyards, and their sheep help by eating weeds and fertilising the soil. The beautiful pigs are not just for aesthetics, but are also used to till the soil inbetween the vines before the first pruning.

Herbs are collected from the land to make teas as well as infusions to nurture the vines. Since the beginning, one of their goals has been to certify the vines and this is currently pending. In the cellar, after using a small clic-clac press for most of their wines, Clos Bateau take a hands-off approach, rarely testing the barrels unless needed and letting the wines have the time they need to find their perfect balance. Old Burgundy barrels are favoured for aging, alongside their two Qvevri.

As for the vineyards, they were the healthiest we encountered on our visit to Beaujolais and everything looked as it should farming in accordance to nature. It really is a beautiful ecosystem the pair have built for themselves on the property, and their love for the land really shows in all aspects.

What are the main grapes used at Clos Bateau?

The majority of grapes used by Clos Bateau are Gamay, which is actually what 98% of Beaujolais winemakers work with. They also farm a tiny little plot of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and have purchased some grapes from Alsace before to make an experimental blend

What is the best Clos Bateau wine?

Finding the best Clos Bateau wine is challenging! Some of the newer 2023 vintages feature integrated volatile acidity which not everyone is accustomed to, so it might be worthwhile opting for Mayga 2023 over JouJou 2023 which has a little more. Bottles like Ousia have a real experimental vibrancy to them, whilst harder to find wines like Sang de Terre (a Pinot aged in Qvevri) and Nuits Noirs have a limited production of between 760-850 bottles and are true gems worth opening at the right time with friends. Expect depth, complexity and wildness...

What else do Clos Bateau do?

In addition to making amazing wine, Sylvie and Thierry also make use of the land and nature surrounding them in other ways. They make hot sauces as a hobby, using special chillis and well as plums from their garden. Sylvie also makes the most beautiful ceramics, which she makes under the name Atelier Nouaison

What is the meaning behind the name Clos Bateau?

The french name Bateau means Boat in English, or as in Dutch is called Boot (the pair are Dutch). This is the surname of Thierry's late grandfather and Sylvie's grandparents worked on a boat, so they wanted to honour a family legacy in the domaine name. The word Clos, means stone and refers to the stone wall surrounding the property they live and work on

How many hectares does Clos Bateau work on?

Clos Bateau have a lucky and rare situation in Beaujolas, as their house, winery and vines are all on the same property, which they were thrilled to discover when they were looking as this is really not common in the region! They have 8.8 hectares of land, of which 5.5 hectares is under vine. When they arrived at the property, 2.5 hectares of that were abandoned and had very low yields when reestablished with care.