Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge AOC 2021

Wine Description for Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge AOC 2021 from Clos des Papes

Colour & Appearance

Transparent garnet red of remarkable clarity – a first hint at the finesse this wine displays at every stage.

Nose

The nose is refined and of striking elegance: violet and rose open the bouquet, followed by cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry. These are joined by ripe plum, a whisper of garrigue, liquorice and fine black pepper. A cool, stony minerality lends the whole tension and depth.

Palate

On the palate, the full complexity of this extraordinary vintage unfolds: the cool fruit richness meets the characteristic southern warmth of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Cherry and plum dominate, flanked by intense liquorice and a hint of truffle. The tannin is silky, the texture almost weightless – power and elegance in rare balance.

Finish

Long, aromatic and of great precision. Spice and dark fruit linger, carried by vibrant minerality. A wine with many years ahead of it.

Terroir & Origin

Clos des Papes ranks among the most reliable addresses of the entire southern Rhône. The vineyards lie on the typical galets roulés – the characteristic rolled pebbles – as well as on sandier and clay-rich soils that give the wine its distinctive depth and freshness.

Grape Variety & Vinification

A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah – in the 2021 vintage with an elevated Mourvèdre proportion. Yields were just 16 hl/ha, less than half the already strict AOC limit. Spontaneous fermentation in cement vat, without pigeage, followed by malolactic fermentation in tank. Ageing for 12 months on fine lees in large wooden vessels. Pure craftsmanship.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with porcini mushroom creamed potatoes with duck breast and Provençal herbs, with a robust wild boar goulash with potatoes or – surprisingly harmonious – with a classic moussaka.

Special Features

The 2021 vintage was marked by a devastating late frost that destroyed around 40% of the harvest. What remained was vinified with maximum care – the result is a wine of extraordinary concentration and finesse, ranking among the outstanding wines of the vintage from the southern Rhône.