Winemaker Notes
The CNP Rouge dominated by 80% Genache is a blend of the different varietals and different terroirs of our appellation. A well-structured wine with fine and elegant tannins. To be carafed during the first years. Because it is bottled without any filtration, some sediment – natural and beneficial to the aging process – is possible
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape looks terrific and will be a solid buy. Lots of darker raspberry and currant fruits, notes of peppery herbs and violets, medium to full body, ripe tannins, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great finish all make for a stunning classic cuvée that will drink nicely for 15 years or more.
Range:92-94
-
James Suckling
Smells just like dry clay on a summer’s day. There’s a good dried fruit character on the nose too, but it’s quite discreet. Excellent balance of healthy tannins, fruit and minerality of the medium to full-bodied palate. Long, warm and polished finish.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Stéphane Usseglio's entry-level Chateauneuf is the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape, about 80% Grenache, blended from several terroirs and raised almost exclusively in tank. It features red raspberries and gentle herbal undertones on the nose, while being full-bodied, soft, creamy and plush in the mouth. It finishes silky and easy, but with a slightly bitter note. Tasted blind.
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.