Winemaker Notes
Blend: 67% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre and 6% other permitted varieties
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Black-plum and mulberry notes are plump and easy on the palate of this velvety, plush red. Ripe and rich, it's elegantly balanced by crisp acidity and fine, firm tannins. Primary and fruity now, with delicate hints of nut and spice, it should develop earth and spice tones through 2025.
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Wine & Spirits
Owned by the Quiot family, this domaine is one of the largest in the appellation, at 230 acres spread among 35 parcels. They make use of all the grape varieties allowed in the appellation, turning out an elegant, mouthwatering style of Châteauneuf. The 2015 feels juicy and alive, a streak of acidity surging though the anise-scented cherry notes. It may not be the most profound of the 2015s, but it’s one of the most delicious.
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Wine Spectator
Alluring, with flow to the cassis, cherry compote and raspberry coulis flavors, backed by light rooibos tea, tobacco and dried blood orange accents. The silky finish is sneaky long, offering a light sanguine echo. Drink now through 2025.
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.