Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The two 2015s start with the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron (no tradition cuvée was presented) and it's a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre brought up all in foudre. Ripe black cherries, framboise, pepper, and garrigue all flow to a nicely balanced, tannic 2015 that has nicely integrated acidity and a solid finish. This is an old-school, classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape that's best forgotten for 3-4 years, and enjoyed over the following decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Cherries and spice mingle easily on the nose of the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Baron, a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 15% Mourvèdre matured in foudre. This full-bodied wine is rich and velvety in texture, with a long, lush, slightly warm finish. It should drink well for up to a decade.
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Wine Spectator
This has a solid, juicy core of bright cassis, cherry preserves and bergamot, backed by juicy and finely beaded acidity. Light floral incense and dried star anise notes flitter through the background. A light mineral edge guides the finish. Drink now through 2030.
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.