Winemaker Notes
Dark ruby in color, this wine offers aromas of red fruits (strawberry, cherry), black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), violet and liquorice, with a finish of leather and truffle notes. On the palate, it is concentrated, round and mellow.
Pairs well with red meats, game and soft cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The more Grenache dominated cuvée from this great estate, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is always made in a more charming, forward style compared to the La Reine des Bois release. The 2018 is a blend of 90% Grenache, 4% each of Syrah and Mourvedre, and the balance Vaccarèse and Counoise, all raised in old barrels and stainless steel. Ripe strawberries, red currants, toasted spice, and garrigue notes emerge from this classy, front end-loaded, already impossible to resist 2018. With soft tannins, a fleshy mid-palate, and a great finish, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade.
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Wine Spectator
A singed alder note leads off, followed quickly by a mix of steeped plum and black cherry pâte de fruit flavors. Black licorice and graphite underscore the finish. Best from 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Round and supple, the full-bodied 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is a large-scaled ball of plum and blackberry fruit and savory nuances. Hints of mocha, black olive and licorice bring added interest to this soft, easygoing offering...
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.