CELLIER DES PRINCES | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | 2018
grenache | mourvèdre | syrah

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Today we are going to review one of the most famous wine blends from Southern Rhône – Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018 by Cellier des Princes. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a famous french wine appellation from the Rhône region, known mostly for its bold red blends (usually grenache blended with syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault). Officially the region makes both red and white wines, with up to 13 different grape varieties making the final blend (unofficially there are up to 20 varieties), howether, white Châteauneuf-du-Pape is harder to find because only about 7% of the region’s vineyards are planted with white grape varieties, usually a blend of grenache blanc, clairette and roussanne. Situated in the south of the Rhône Valley, close to the border of Provence, Châteauneuf-du-Pape was the very first french wine appellation, created in 1936, considered up to present days to be the benchmark of the Southern Rhône wines, it translates into english as the “pope’s new castle” and refers to a time when the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was in Avignon (between 1309–1377). This particular wine is a blend of grenache (90%), mourvèdre (5%) and syrah (5%) grapes that were grown on sandy soils, topped with round pebbles, aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks, thus no oak has been used, in order to display the true expression of the local terroir. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: pale copper color
clarity: hazy copper shades

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & savory
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: red currant | cranberry | red cherry | red plum | dried cranberry | dried cherry
fruit character: ripe & dried

//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | spice | savory | earthy | other
__herbal: wormwood | basil | tomato leaf
__spice: red pepper | cloves | thyme
__savory: brown olive | iron | veal | leather
__earthy: brown soil | loam | sand
__other: sun-dried oak
primary layer: savory

//Palate
sweetness: bone dry
acidity: medium
alcohol: high
tannin: medium-
__grip: green
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: supple | medium

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: spice & herbs
finish: medium
aftertaste: seedy-hot

//Scoring
CELLIER DES PRINCES | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | 2018
variety: grenache | mourvèdre | syrah
country: France | Rhône
region: Rhône | Châteauneuf-du-Pape
rating: 92.6

//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or in the next 3-5 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended
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This is definitely a fine wine of France and, with a total of 92.6 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a very fine wine blend: rough, supple and rustic – a wine that is right there, at the peak of its prime form, thus one that can be enjoyed today or in the next 3 to 5 years, as it has enough structure to support further bottle ageing. It tastes seedy and a bit sharp, with a nuanced old-world accent on the palate, crisp acidity and quite a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel. This is a wine that lacks harmony and finesse on the palate, as it feels slightly opulent and green. On the nose, the wine delivers a nuanced fruity-savory foreground, supported by an earthy and quite rustic background, and a layer of spiciness in between. This is definitely a wine that has both, a distinctive personality and the footprint of the Courthezon’s village terroir. Our recommendation is to pair it with slightly spicy dishes, that are rich in umami flavours, like for example a filet mignon with garlic and herb butter or a butter-basted garlic and herbs skillet steak in order to round up all the angularity in the wine and highlight its savoriness. Salute!

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