Winemaker Notes
The wine has a deep, ruby color. The nose is charming, with aromas of wild fruits (raspberries, cherries) and sweet spices. The palate is elegant, combining freshness and finesse. Floral, peppery and licorice notes are added to the fruiter flavors of blackberries and red currants. The aging in new wood (15%) brings structure to this Chateauneuf-du-Pape, remarkable in its youth, but whose aging potential is important. The tannins are supple and silky and end on a delicate minty finish.
Pair with porcini, chanterelle and parsley pie, Basque chicken and pilaf rice, beef cheek confit with sweet potato and wild blueberry pie.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 70% Grenache and 15% each Syrah and Mourvèdre that was all destemmed, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape is dee ruby-hued and reveals loads of ripe red and black berry fruits supported by peppery herbs, violets, and floral, spicy nuances. It's beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and outstanding length.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
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.