Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020

Clos des Papes is one of the great established names of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in recent years has produced a succession of remarkable wines made by Paul-Vincent Avril. Clos des Papes is one of the few estates to use all permitted varieties for both red and white Chateauneuf. They are well-known for producing one of the most authentic and long-lived examples of the appellation having started estate bottling in 1896. The Clos des Papes estate covers approximately 80 acres, with 24 different plots of land that include some of the most beautiful soils in the Chateauneuf vineyards. The geographical separation of the vineyards allows for control of ripeness at harvest time and the ability to combine different varieties planted to the south. "Clos des Papes" produces both red and white wines for long-keeping, using traditional vinification and maturing. The yields are deliberately low, averaging 28hl/hectare, and undergo further strict sorting to uphold quality. 

The classic Rhône Red Blend typically consists of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, which provide strong fruit flavours and sweet spice accents. Other grape varieties such as Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise are also sometimes used in the blend. Although these blends originated in France's southern Rhône Valley, they have gained popularity in other countries with some creative interpretation.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley, is famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy red wines with flavour and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice. The terrain is dominated by large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, which 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, with Grenache as the star player for reds, followed by Mourvedre and Syrah. Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine, typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc. The name Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," originated from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon, and it was actually Pope John XXII who established the vineyards.

The Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 vintage is made up of Grenache (55%), Mourvèdre (35%), and Syrah (10%) grape varieties. The wine was produced using 100% destemmed grapes and natural yeast fermentation that lasted for several weeks. It was then aged in large oak casks for 12-15 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. When tasted, the wine exhibits an exceptional aroma of framboise, kirsch, dried flowers, and Asian spices. Despite its full-bodied nature, the wine has a light and smooth texture on the palate, and a long-lasting aftertaste. This wine is remarkable due to its complex and well-balanced characteristics.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - 55% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah
Country - France
Region - Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 15%