Winemaker Notes
"Kirsch liqueur, gorgeous notes of tapenade, spice box, earth, and cedar jump from the glass of the dark ruby/plum-colored 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Alexis Establet. This is a big, round, full-bodied wine which again seems surprisingly silky and plush for a wine from this vintage. It should drink well for 10-12+ years if not longer."
-Wine Advocate 90-93
"Ruby-red. Exotic, liqueur-like red and dark berry aromas show a balsamic accent. Deep, rich and sweet, with a powerful raspberry flavor and a late mineral note. Fresher on the finish than on the nose, with tangy acidity brightening the fruit. Offers outstanding length."
-International Wine Cellar 91-94
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The top cuvee of the estate, Grand Tinel’s 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Alexis Establet is made from 100% Grenache that’s aged in a combination of new and used foudre, and concrete tanks. Ripe, sexy and supple, with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate, it has beautiful kirsch, orange rind, licorice, forest floor and underbrush qualities on the nose. Drinking at point, with a great texture, it should continue to dish out loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years.
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Vinous
The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Alexis Establet opens with a delicious minty streak accompanied by forest floor, tobacco and dried red fruits. Full-bodied, round and refreshing, the 2005 is a superbly-balanced, 20-year-old red Châteauneuf-du-Pape that stood the test of time. Clocks out with elegance and finesse.
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Wine Spectator
A very spicy, open-knit style, with blackberry, fig, date and incense notes wrapped around juicy acidity. The lively finish lets it all hang together nicely. Drink now through 2020. 1,250 cases made.
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.