Winemaker Notes
It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a gorgeous perfume of crushed rocks, jammy black fruits, charcoal and graphite, blackberry aromas. The palate holds excellent fruit character and has a great kick. The tannins are round and the finish is long with mint and dark fruit notes. It is all very much together and harmonious, and has great aging potential.
An outstanding Chateauneuf du Pape expressing the quintessence of its terroir.
Blend: 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An assemblage of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes follows the domaine's formula of maturing the Grenache in concrete tanks, while the Mourvèdre and Syrah go into barrel (new in this case). With the elevated Mourvèdre component, scents of truffle and tree bark accent black cherries and plums on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated and tannic from start to finish. Give it some time to mellow, as the velvety, mocha-tinged finish suggests it will evolve in a softer direction.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship from this reference point estate is the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes, which is based on 45% each Grenache and Mourvèdre with a dose of Syrah that spent 16 months in new oak and concrete tank. It brings more richness than just about every other wine in the vintage and has a deep ruby/plum hue as well as a ripe, concentrated, medium to full-bodied style revealing gorgeous blackberry and subtle cassis fruits, polished, ripe tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and terrific complexity in its licorice, peppery garrigue, and roasted meat-like aromas and flavors. It's a beautifully textured, layered, impressive 2021 to enjoy over the coming decade.
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James Suckling
Impressive nose of forest berries with stacks of licorice, savory and bark character. Full-bodied and seriously structured on the palate where the tannins are still a bit mouth-puckering and will need some years of aging in bottle to harmonize. Massive weight and moderate acidity at the bold finish. A cuvee of 45% grenache, 45% mourvedre and 10% syrah.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and brooding, this densely packed version shows winey character laced with warm fig and sappy berries. Gains a bit of an old-school feel, thanks to slightly chewy tannins, while warm baking spices and smoked apple wood line the formidable finish. Packs serious mineral power and warm earth notes, too. Best from 2025 through 2032. 800 cases made, 240 cases imported.
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.