Château Ricardelle is located in the La Clape region in Côteaux du Languedoc. Despite its rather unpromising name, La Clape is one of the most impressive wine-producing enclaves in Côteaux du Languedoc, which has for several years been vying with Pic Saint Loup to be the next wine commune to merit its own Appellation Controllée status. A far cry from the austerity of the limestone outcrops of the northern Hérault, here we are only a few kilometres from the seaside.

The good news, for La Clape at least, is that it has won the accolade first and all wines made after January 2100 will have an autonomous AOC La Clape status. The promotion was won as a result of the distinctive terroir and the efforts by the existing growers fully to exploit its wonderful potential;

The Nègre family at Ricardelle are one of the top five domaines here. The elegance of their wines is evidenced through the entire range, and the fact that the superior Closalbières cuvée has benefited from 10 months in barrique in no way detracts from its sense of place and the integrity of its structure.