Learn everything about Chateau Simian Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important wineries and wine makers from the Rhone valley: Links to all Rhone Valley Wine Producer Profiles
The birth of Chateau Simian can be dated to 1920. That was the year when the owner of the property, Sophie Simian died with no family heirs to pass the vineyard on to. Instead, Marcelle Laudret, who was an employee that worked at Chateau Simian, inherited the estate.
Today, Chateau Simian is owned and managed by a direct descendant of the Laudret family, Jean Pierre Serguier. Over the past few years, the owner of the property has managed to increase the size of their vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape.
Chateau Simian Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking
Chateau Simian owns 6 hectares of vines in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation. Their vines are in 3 main lieux-dits. They have plantings in Bertaude, Cabrieres and Caladas.
Their oldest Grenache vines, which were planted in 1880 reside in Caladas. As you would expect, their terroir includes sand, rock, clay and limestone soils.
They also own 20 hectares of vines located in the Cotes du Rhone Villages appellation. They also produce a Vin de Pays wine. All their vineyard is done with biodynamic farming techniques. Chateau Simian has been certified for both Agriculture Biologique and Agriculture Biodynamique.
Chateau Simian produces 2 red Chateauneuf du Pape wines and 2 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc wines.
Chateau Simian Le Traversier made its debut with the 2011 vintage. The wine replaced what was bottled simply as Simian Chateauneuf du Pape. Le Traversier is made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault.
he vines are on average at least 50 years of age. The grapes are destemmed. Vinification takes place in either concrete tanks or stainless steel vats and the wine is aged for 8 months in demi-muids before bottling.
Chateau Simian Les Grandes Grenachieres d’Hippolyte made its debut with the 2007 vintage. The wine is made from 95% old vine Grenache from vines that are more than 80 years of age. The wine is a blend of 95% Grenache and the remaining 5% comes from various other allowable grape varieties.
Yields for this cuvee are always quite low at close to 18 hectoliters per hectare. The grapes are destemmed. Vinification takes place in either concrete tanks or stainless steel vats. The wine is then aged in tank for between 10 to 12 months before bottling.
Simian Les Grandes Grenachieres d’Hippolyte is not made in every year. the wine is only produced in the best vintages. As of 2014, the wine has only been released from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 vintages.
Chateau Simian Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Le Traversier is made using a blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 35% Roussanne and 15% Bourboulenc.
Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc La Font d’Hippolyte comes from blending 60% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc and 20% Clairette.
When to Drink Chateau Simian, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Simian can be enjoyed on the young side. Young vintages can be popped and poured, or decanted for about 1 hour, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Simian is usually better with 3-4 years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages the wine should be consumed within 3-12 years after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Simian with Wine, Food Pairing Tips
Chateau Simian is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Simian is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, barbecue and cassoulet. Chateau Simian is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant, cheese and tomatoes.
The white wine of Chaeau Simian is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.
Chateau Simian produced a regular red Chateauneuf du Pape wine that was discontinued after the 2011 vintage. That wine was replaced by the cuvee, Le Traversier. Interestingly, both wines were produced in the 2011 vintage.
Chateau Simian produces several wines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation that includes 3 red wines, 2 white wines and a rose’. They also produce several different Vin de Pay from both red and white wine grapes.
Château Simian Wine Tasting Notes
15 Vintages 25,241 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2021
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Spice, smoke, fennel, olives, and kirsch are all over the place. Medium-bodied, forward, soft, subtle, and salty, with loads of dark, cherries, and peppery spice in the endnote, you can enjoy this with pleasure on release. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Counoise. Drink from 2024-2031. 237 Views Tasted Jan 30, 2024 |
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2020
Château Simian les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
There is a touch of VA that will excite some and not others, you also find garrigue, plums and licorice in the nose. Round, creamy, lush and concentrated, the wine is much better on the palate, with its long, packed and stacked, dark red fruit, chalk, salt and hint of cocoa on the backend. The wine was produced using close to 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2024-2038. 569 Views Tasted Jan 27, 2023 |
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2020
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Olive tapenade, herbs, peppery spices and sweet, red cherries show with no effort in the nose. On the palate the wine is soft, supple and fresh, with lift and creamy textures in the finish. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. Drink from 2023-2037. 533 Views Tasted Jan 27, 2023 |
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2018
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium-bodied, elegant, silky, refined and soft, the wine is ripe, floral and juicy with a beautiful purity to the sweet, ripe red fruits. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. 1,685 Views Tasted Oct 12, 2020 |
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2017
Château Simian les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
With a strong herbal component to the red fruits, you also find spearmint, oregano and olives. On the palate the wine is spicy, dense, fresh and comes with a basket of olives and herbs in the finish. The wine was produced using 100% old vine Grenache. 2,065 Views Tasted Sep 24, 2019 |
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2017
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The Herbs de Provence kicks in early here. From there you find spicy, peppery red fruits and a finish that shows a strong olive tapanade and red berry profile. The wine was made blending 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. 1,761 Views Tasted Sep 24, 2019 |
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2016
Château Simian les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The garrigue is strong here, and it's accompanied by thyme, mint and olives which add to the spicy, fresh, juicy, sweet kirsch notes. Full bodied, spicy and polished, the wine is long, deep and fresh, with good concentration, length and complexity. The wine was produced using 100% old vine Grenache. 1,920 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2016
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
With a strong garrigue and herbal leaning, you also find sweet, ripe, red fruits and loads of olive tapanade in the medium bodied, round finish. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. 2,232 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2015
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium bodied, sweet, and bright, with crisp, red berries and a spicy, fresh, juicy, kirsch finish. 1,284 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
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2014
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium bodied, forward, lighter, elegant, fresh style of wine for early drinking pleasure with a forward, cherry and strawberry center. This is not a wine to lay down, but a wine of pleasure. 1,460 Views Tasted Jun 23, 2016 |
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2013
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium bodied, sweet and tart red berries with wild strawberry and herbs in a forward style. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 1,764 Views Tasted Sep 8, 2015 |
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2012
Château Simian Le Traversier (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium bodied, lighter styled wine, with a lot of freshness, some spice, herbs and kirsch, but not a lot of depth for early drinking. 1,347 Views Tasted Mar 6, 2018 |
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2010
Château Simian les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Low yields and Grenache from vines close to 100 years of age produced a super rich, lush, round, juicy wine packed with sweetness, kirsch, jam, pepper and herbs. 3,577 Views Tasted Sep 16, 2015 |
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2009
Château Simian les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Produced from almost 100% old vine Grenache, this already delicious, supple, luscious wine combines hedonistic textures, fresh, ripe, sweet black raspberries, thyme and spicy kirsch sensations in a forward personality. 3,207 Views Tasted Dec 20, 2015 |
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2009
Château Simian (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Medium bodied, fresh, lush and ready to go, with loads of sweet, peppery black raspberries and spicy kirsch notes. 1,600 Views Tasted Sep 16, 2015 |
