Winemaker Notes
Blend: 60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre from sandy parcels in Guigasse and Pignan, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a stupendous wine, even if it didn't quite reach the triple-digit heights I hoped it would when tasted out of barrel. Complex notes of crushed stone, pressed flowers, intricate herbal shadings and mixed berries mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is unimaginably silky and near-endless on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Expressive hightoned aromas of strawberry, rhubarb and rose lead into a beautifully pure red and black fruit core. Poised yet powerful, the palate reveals cardamom, salt and stone, transitioning into dark cherries, savory notes, red licorice and rose petal. Complex and delicious,
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Vinous
The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Réserve is an instant classic. Swirling the glass unlocks ripe red and black fruits amid traces of lavender, black tea, licorice, crushed violets and a dash of white pepper. Full-bodied with a laser-like focus, the 15.31% alcohol is flawlessly tucked within the wine's frame. Finishing with outstanding purity and length.
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Wine Spectator
A dark, rich and densely layered red, with iron and graphite at its heart, this is smoldering with plum puree, tar and smoke. Surprisingly supple on the integrated palate, with concentration and savory power that will carry this for years. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Reserve is another wine that doesn't live up to the barrel review. Revealing a translucent ruby hue as well as a perfumed nose of mulled strawberries, dried earth, Provençal herbs, and flowers, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, fine tannins, and an elegant, seamless profile.
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.