Chateau de Nalys Saintes Pierres de Nalys Chateauneuf-du-Pape (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2016
-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Deep, dark and profound red color. An elegant nose that opens with notes of red fruits. Ample and supple tannins while keeping a lovely frame. A rich wine, balanced between richness and freshness.
Pair with an assortment of charcuterie, red meat grilled or cooked in a sauce like a spring lamb stew, a platter of aged cheeses.
Blend: 69% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 4% Muscardin, 1% Counoise, 1% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The "second wine" of Nalys, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Saintes Pierres is a blend of 69% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 4% Muscardin, and 1% each Counoise and Mourvèdre. It was put together by the Guigal team, although the vinifications took place prior to the acquisition. It's an attractive, full-bodied wine that delivers ripe cherries, a hint of stone fruit and very supple tannins. It's a bit too easy to think it will be a long-term cellar candidate, but it's a ripe, juicy mouthful of fruit to drink over the next 6-7 years.
-
James Suckling
This has very concentrated fruit presence with an excellent sense of purity and focus. Aromas of rich, dark berries define the nose. Long, rich palate with a striking, layered, spicy impression. Ripe dark plums and chocolate to close. Drink or hold.
Other Vintages
2018-
Wine
Spectator -
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
Since their very first vintage bottled under the Guigal name, in 1946, the Guigal family has produced a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The terroirs of Nalys realize a dream spanning three generations to join this leading prestigious and historic appellation. A property of 125 contiguous acres, Nalys is comprised of three spectacular plots within three of the best vineyards in the appellation: the famous “La Crau”, Nalys, and “Bois Sénéchal”. Already listed in regional land registers at the end of the 16th century, Chateau de Nalys is one of the oldest properties in the appellation, and begins a new chapter in the hands of Guigal.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.