Winemaker Notes
First produced in 1989, the Flagship of the estate and made only in exceptional vintages from their oldest vines of Grenache (the oldest were planted in 1901) with a compliment of Mourvèdre and/or Syrah in varying proportions according to the vintage. All the varietals are fermented together and give rise to a wine both concentrated and elegant and with a great finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This 2021 Chateauneuf has wonderful red fruit aromas and a very satisfying harmony, which is more than most of the wines. Lots of gentle tannins give this a pleasantly mellow mouthfeel that's very easy to enjoy, but also sophisticated. Long, graceful finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape matured for 20 months in a combination of foudre, , concrete and steel tanks. This 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers up lively aromas of ripe red and black fruits, tomato leaf, cloves and dried herbs. It is a polished and layered full-bodied red with ripe tannins and bright acidity, capturing the freshness really well.
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Wine Spectator
This medium-weight red offers notes of red currant and snappy cherry, backed by singed cedar and smoked black tea flavors, with iron bolts grounding fruit and perfume notes. Starts off very smooth, with straight tannins that make for a firmly structured finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2033. 1,000 cases made, 200 cases imported.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The only Châteauneuf du Pape released in 2021, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape checks in as 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and a handful of other varieties, raised in mostly in foudre but some concrete and steel. It has a beautiful, classic style in its crunch cherry and strawberry fruit as well as complex notes of rose petals, peppery herbs, and forest floor. This medium-bodied, fresh, lively, elegant 2021 has terrific overall balance, the more linear, focused profile of the vintage, and a great finish.
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.