Winemaker Notes
This cuvée in tribute to the founder of Château de Vaudieu, shows both the finesse and the power of the Grenache. On the nose, it has notes of Provence herbs and cherry jam, while the mouth balances between a powerful fruit and a minerality characteristic of the soil.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Amiral G. brings more density and depth. Based on 100% Grenache aging in concrete and demi-muid, its medium ruby hue is followed by a gorgeous perfume of black cherries, wild strawberries, Provençal garrigue, leather, and peppery, spice-like nuances. It's beautifully polished, medium to full-bodied, has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and ripe, building tannins. It's very much in the sunny, perfumed, complex, and already accessible style of the vintage yet is going to evolve gracefully over the coming 15 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crafted entirely from Grenache Noir planted on galets roulés, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Amiral G reveals aromas of dark cherries, spices, oak, licorice and lead pencil mingled with garrigue notes. Medium to full-bodied, structured and concentrated, it's denser and fleshier than the classic cuvée with velvety tannins and a rich, powerful finish. Produced at only 3,000 bottles and matured for 18 months in demi-muids or 600-liter barrels, this is a great success.
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Wine Spectator
Generously oaked and stylish, with a rich core of cassis and red currant that glides through on a silky palate. A solid layer of iron-edged minerality brings balance and form, reining in the plushness. Builds in power through the finish, with flattering cedar oak polish and toastiness. A modern, generous version. Best from 2026 through 2040.
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.