Clos Massotte

Pierre-Nicolas Massotte — Roussillon

Clos Massotte is the passion project of Pierre-Nicolas Massotte, a winemaker who, in 2004, decided to leave his career in the city to return to his family's winemaking roots in the Roussillon. Taking over a small portion of the family's 40-hectare property, he began an intentional journey toward natural winemaking. His philosophy is one of humility and simplicity, believing that a winemaker's role is to let the land speak for itself. He has become known for crafting wines that are fresh and mineral-driven, a surprising feat in this famously sun-drenched region.

A Philosophy of Freshness and Terroir

Pierre-Nicolas's philosophy is rooted in a deep personal connection to his land. He works to create wines that capture the vitality of his vineyards while avoiding the heavy, over-extracted styles often associated with the Roussillon.

  • Organic Farming: He converted the domaine to organic farming from the beginning, earning Ecocertcertification. He works gently, using natural preparations to nurture the vines and the soil.

  • Low Intervention: In the cellar, his approach is hands-off. He uses native yeasts and works with a gravity-fed system to avoid pumps. Fermentations are often long and natural.

  • Minimal Sulfur: He uses practically no sulfur throughout the winemaking process, with a goal of creating wines that are pure, lively, and unadulterated.

The Vineyards and Terroir

The domaine is located in the Aspres region of the Roussillon, nestled at the foot of the Pyrénées and Mount Canigou.

  • Location: The vineyards are situated near the village of Trouillas, in the Pyrénées-Orientales.

  • Vineyard Area: A small, personal domaine of around 8 hectares.

  • Grape Varieties: He works with a diverse range of classic Roussillon grapes, including Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsault, and white grapes like Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, and Muscat d'Alexandrie.

  • Old Vines: A key component of his success is the age of his vines, with an average age of over 60 years. These old vines, deeply rooted in the soil, produce low yields of concentrated, characterful grapes.

  • Soils & Climate: The terroir is a mix of clay and limestone soils. The high sun exposure is balanced by low yields and his winemaking approach, which brings freshness and minerality to the final wines.

Winemaking and Process

Pierre-Nicolas's winemaking is a precise and thoughtful process, aimed at preserving the natural character of the grapes.

  • Harvest: Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted.

  • Vinification: He typically destems the grapes and ferments them in concrete or stainless steel tanks. He uses a gentle press for extraction and practices long macerations to build complexity and structure.

  • Aging: The wines are aged in a variety of vessels, including concrete tanks and old barrels. This allows them to settle and evolve naturally before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Signature Wines to Discover

The wines of Clos Massotte are known for their elegance, freshness, and complexity.

  • Vie: A vibrant red blend, often featuring Syrah and Cinsault, with a wild, expressive character.

  • Ondine: A lively white wine, often a blend of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, with a delicate mineral quality.

  • Perle & Pépin: A rich red wine, typically a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan.

  • À Nous 2021: A popular red blend.

Address & Contact

Clos Massotte is a small, personal operation. Visits are by appointment only.

  • Address: 12 Clos Massotte, 66300 Trouillas, France.