Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
An attractive, layered, velvety and poised Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of cherries, strawberries, dried herbs, tar and baking spices. It's full-bodied with fine tannins. Succulent and well composed. There’s elegance here, yet it has character and structure. It's in control, seductive and flavorful with a long finish. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Deeper ruby-hued and semi-opaque, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape reveals ultra-classic aromatics of ripe black cherries, peppered meats, garrigue, lavender, and sandalwood nuances. Based on 75% Grenache, 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault, it was partially destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks, and aged 12 months in large foudre. It's medium-bodied and has a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This plays in the more charming, forward style of the vintage yet has everything in the right place, with flawless balance, and it’s just loaded with charm and character. Drink 2025-2045.
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.