Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes AOC 2020

Wine Description for Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes AOC 2020 from Marcoux

Colour & Appearance

Muted garnet red with lively violet reflections – a wine that reveals its youth and concentration already in the glass.

Nose

Profound and captivingly concentrated. Ripe dark berries meld with figs and dates, underpinned by dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts and a hint of mocha. The aromatics possess that charming sweetness and depth that old Grenache vines on the finest parcels of Châteauneuf can produce.

Palate

Powerful and uncompromising. At 16% alcohol, this Vieilles Vignes displays enormous density and a concentration that demands robust cuisine. The structure is impressive – taut, mineral-driven and supported by a tannin architecture that will endure for decades. Still closed, but with enormous potential. Decanting is essential.

Finish

Long, spicy and characterised by fine minerality, which lends the wine elegance and tension despite its opulence.

Terroir & Origin

The Armenier family manages 13 parcels with highly diverse soils: the legendary galets roulés on clay-rich subsoil, red sandstone, colluvial sediments and Cretaceous limestone soils. This diversity imparts the wine its remarkable complexity and vitality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Grenache Noir dominates, complemented by Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts. 18 months ageing in concrete tanks, supplemented by some large wooden vats and older 350-litre barrels – restrained oak treatment that allows fruit and terroir to take centre stage.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This powerful Southern Rhône demands intense flavours: seared duck liver with lingonberries, hare with Rouen sauce, lamb with herb crust or a tart of Fourme d’Ambert with blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Serve lightly chilled (16-17°C) in large Burgundy glasses.

Special Characteristics

A Châteauneuf for the patient. The 2020 vintage possesses the backbone for two to three decades of cellaring and will only reveal its true greatness in the years to come.