Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a tour de force. Raspberry and apricot-scented fruit, rich chocolate notes and an incredible whirlwind of spice are delivered in this full-bodied wine that shows no heat, just waves of flavor. It should drink well for 20 years or more.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe and focused, with a delightful mix of cassis, blood orange and cherry coulis flavors streaming through, backed by black tea and apple wood accents. Finely beaded acidity lets the fruit stretch out, while a light mineral edge adds range. Shows an echo of licorice snap at the very end. Dense, but there’s remarkable grace here. Best from 2020 through 2040.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes shows the finesse of the Cuvée Chaupin, yet adds more richness and depth. Blackcurrants, spice-box, licorice and roasted garrigue all emerge from this rich, full-bodied, exceedingly elegant and finesse-driven beauty. It has building tannin, and a great, great finish, all while playing in the more fresh, elegant style of the vintage.
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James Suckling
A powerful wine with neatly matched oak influence adding spicy nuances to ripe blueberry, raspberry and red plum fruits. The palate has suave, velvety tannins that drive long and smooth, with plenty of red plum fruit.
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.