Winemaker Notes
A traditional Châteauneuf, with figs, currants and blackberry fruit framed by spice box and tobacco notes. Full-bodied with plenty of character and integrated tannins that lead to a fresh finish. Approachable now, but can develop in the cellar for the next ten years.
Blend: 70% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Picpoul Noir
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
There's no Cuvée du Papet this year as yields were too low, so all that fruit went into this wine instead. Sourced from various plots across the appellation on a mix of soils, most of the fruit is fermented and aged in concrete. It has a mix of spice and flowers on the nose, leading into a full-bodied palate packed full of juicy, concentrated berry fruits. A vibrant acid line and mineral sheen bring remarkable freshness and energy to the tight tannic frame, coming to a crescendo - it's a really thrilling wine.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Due to miniscule yields, there won't be a Cuvée du Papet in 2017. The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape checks in as a blend of 70% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties. Always one of the benchmarks for traditionally made Châteauneuf Du Pape, the 2017 offers a complex bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, sappy green herbs, pepper, and olive tapenade. Complex and medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins and brilliant balance, it can be drunk today or cellared for 15-20 years. There are roughly 2,500 cases produced, and it’s a terrific wine.
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James Suckling
Quite a seriously structured wine that’s still making its way, and may well show a lot better after another couple of years in the bottle. Intense, minty freshness and crisp acidity. Not as rich as many other wines from this appellation, but well balanced with quite some energy and spice at the finish.
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Wine Spectator
This has an enticing core of mulled currant, blackberry and raspberry fruit, laced with singed alder details and backed by a sanguine echo. Flashes of garrigue and incense show on the finish. Drink now through 2032.
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.