Winemaker Notes
The estate's flagship cuvée, always at the top of international rankings. The robe is dark with purple reflections. On the nose, the still discreet aromas of crushed black fruits and garrigue are just waiting to melt into a noble and fresh substance, to reveal finesse and elegance on the palate.
Pair with hare stew à la Royale.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The advantages of old vines are perhaps most evident in the more difficult vintages (whether hot and dry or cool and rainy). The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a strong effort, delivering supple, velvety waves of ripe black cherries and black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, it's rich and concentrated without seeming at all heavy or unbalanced, finishing long and juicy. It's approximately 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah and 5% other varieties, keeping in mind that up to 15% of the old Grenache vines are actually Clairette Rose.
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Vinous
The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from vines aged between 80 and 100 years. The 2021 Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with expressive aromas of redcurrant, red and black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, tobacco leaves, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and wrapped in plush tannins. Fresh acidity balances it ahead of a quite complex finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieille Vignes is one of the top wines in the vintage. Mostly Grenache (15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah) that saw one-third stems, it offers a Burgundian bouquet of black cherries, redcurrants, peppery herbs, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant, it has fine tannins, beautiful purity of fruit, and outstanding length. It's hard to resist today yet will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and have over a decade of prime drinking.
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Wine Spectator
A silky, svelte style, this is expertly reined in by an iron frame of firming mineral energy. Boasts black tea, tar, fresh tobacco and salted cured meat notes that bring savory details, complementing attractive violet, incense and black raspberry paste accents. Vibrant and structured, this is a well-crafted wine that is both seductive and serious. Packs a menthol kick on the long finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2032.
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James Suckling
A rich, deep and creamy red, yet balanced. Baked cherries, cassis, cocoa powder and baking spices. Full-bodied with very fine tannins. Velvety textured mid-palate with some fresh berry character. Plush yet it remains balanced and flavorful with a generously fruity finish. Drink or hold.
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.