Winemaker Notes
As with the other cuvées from Roger Sabon, the philosophy behind the Cuvée Prestige is to harvest the Grenache and Syrah early to preserve their natural acidity since the age of these vines – the oldest topping a century in age – will provide plenty of richness and concentration. As a result this wine walks the line between fresh red fruit, and dense black fruit flavors with additional complexity coming from a blend that also includes Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Muscardin and Terret Noir.
Blend: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prestige checks in as 75% Grenache and the balance mostly Syrah and smaller parts of other permitted varieties. Crème de cassis, olive tapenade, smoked herbs, and licorice notes all emerge from this remarkably pure, seamless, gorgeously refined and elegant Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It shows slightly more Syrah character, has a multi-dimensional texture, and a layered, elegant style that just begs to be drunk. It can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years or more.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from the lieux-dits of Les Brusquières and Cabrières, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre and 5% other varieties. Tasted blind, it's a big, full-bodied, lush wine. Powered by bold cherry and stone fruit, it shows hints of pepper and clove complexity, plus vibrant citrus zest notes on the long, electric finish. Wow.
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Wine Spectator
Intense, with a racy and focused beam of raspberry coulis, cherry preserve and blackberry paste flavors driving through, laced with mouthwatering anise, black tea and singed apple wood notes. The long, graphite-edged finish shows terrific energy. Best from 2020 through 2040.
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Decanter
High-toned floral aromas and depth of fruit bodes well for future development. It's full-bodied, but with no heaviness. It has good acidity and some mineral hints on the long finish. Overall the impression is one of great freshness and purity, unforced and not over-extracted, showing perfect balance. Very good. Drinking Window 2019 - 2026
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Wine Enthusiast
Intensely ripe mulberry and plum flavors are muted by whiffs of smoke, cinnamon and pepper in this powerhouse Grenacheblend. It’s muscular and brooding but maintains a freshness on the midpalate marked by pert acidity and finely edged tannins. Appealing already the wine should approach peak through 2035. Eric Solomon Selections
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.