Learn everything about Domaine La Mereuille 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
Domaine La Mereuille History, Overview
Domaine La Mereuille is an old estate with more than two centuries of history in the Southern Rhone Valley. But as a vineyard, the estate is not that old.
In fact, prior to 1950, a good portion of the land was devoted to growing crops other than grapes for wine. Domaine la Mereuille produced their first wine in 1984. Domaine La Mereuille remains a family owned winery as the third generation is now firmly in charge of managing the winery, headed by Michel Bouyer.
Domaine La Mereuille owns 4 hectares of vines in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation. The majority of their vineyards, 3.8 hectares are used to plant grapes for the production of red wine.
.2 hectares are reserved for making Chateauneuf du Pape white wine. Domaine La Mereuille also owns 12 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation.
Domaine La Mereuille Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking
Domaine La Mereuille produces 3 red Chateauneuf du Pape wines and 1 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc.
Domaine La Mereuille Chateauneuf du Pape is made from a blend of 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. The terroir is sand, clay and limestone soils in the Cabrieres lieu-dit. The wine is aged in a combination of demi-muid, foudres and a small percentage of used, French oak barrels for up to 24 months. About 1,300 cases are produced each vintage.
Domaine La Mereuille Les Baptaurels – The wine made its debut in 2007. Produced from up to 100% Grenache, although some vintages could have a minor portion of Syrah blended in. The terroir is pure sand soils in the Maucoil lieu-dit. The wine is aged in used, French oak barrels.
Domaine La Mereuille Cuvee d’ Aure – One of the few Chateauneuf du Pape wines produced using 100% Syrah, the vines are planted in red sandstone in the Cabrieres lieu-dit. The wine is aged in used oak barrels.
Domaine La Mereuille Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc – 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc and 5% Roussanne create the blend. Production is on average only 700 bottles per year.
When to Drink Domaine La Mereuille, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Domaine La Mereuille 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.
Domaine La Mereuille is usually better with 2-3 years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages the wine should be consumed within 3-10 years after the vintage
Serving Domaine La Mereuille with Wine, Food Pairing Tips
Domaine La Mereuille is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Domaine La Mereuille is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage and cassoulet. Domaine La Mereuille is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant and tomatoes.
The white wine of Domaine La Mereuille is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.
Domaine La Mereuille Wine Tasting Notes
10 Vintages 17,949 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
|
2019
Domaine La Mereuille Les Baptaurels (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Black raspberries, peppery kirsch, and herbs shine in the nose and in the round, supple, fresh, earthy, cherry-filled palate, finishing with a peppery edge to the red berries in the endnote. Drink 2023-2034. 2,054 Views Tasted Jul 4, 2023 |
|
2018
Domaine La Mereuille Cuvée d' Auré (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Produced from 100% Syrah, the wine is concentrated, full-bodied, meaty, peppery, and spicy, with a lush, red berry finish with a peppery, leafy edge to the finish. Drink from 2022-2032. 1,354 Views Tasted Nov 20, 2022 |
|
2016
Domaine La Mereuille La Baptaurelle (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Fresh, lively and medium bodied, the wine is focused on its peppery, black raspberry and kirsch notes. There is a touch of wood in the top note, which quickly fades with air. The wine was made using 100% Grenache. 1,606 Views Tasted Sep 12, 2018 |
|
2015
Domaine La Mereuille (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Quite spicy, which gives the wine a unique edge, you also find peppery kirsch and assorted red fruits in the fresh finish here. The wine was made from blending 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. 1,857 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
|
2015
Domaine La Mereuille Cuvée d' Auré (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Deep in color, which is to be expected as the wine comes from 100% Syrah. The wine is also dark in its choice of peppery red fruits. Full bodied, and tannic, a few years of cellaring could add more to the wine. This is a rare bird, as very few wines from Chateauneuf du Pape are produced using 100% Syrah. 2,093 Views Tasted Aug 24, 2017 |
|
2013
Domaine La Mereuille La Baptaurelle (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Red raspberries are the first thing you notice, before moving to sweet ripe cherries. This is all about the freshness in its red fruit character. 1,457 Views Tasted Sep 8, 2015 |
|
2012
Domaine La Mereuille (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Forward, simple, easy drinking, black raspberry, earthy and spice filled wine, medium bodied, with a touch of herbs and underbrush to round things out. 2,520 Views Tasted Feb 13, 2017 |
|
2011
Domaine La Mereuille La Baptaurelle (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
5 spice, blackberry and red plum on the nose. The palate enjoys soft, silky textures and a polished, accessible finish. From 100% Grenache, the wine reached 14.5% ABV. 1,404 Views Tasted Aug 26, 2014 |
|
2010
Domaine La Mereuille La Baptaurelle (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Jammy, ripe, fresh and soft, this medium bodied, red berry filled wine is already drinking well. 1,600 Views Tasted May 31, 2013 |
|
2009
Domaine La Mereuille La Baptaurelle (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Fully mature, with an earthy, peppery garrigue character that accompanies the medium bodied, soft, strawberry and black raspberry fruit. This is not a wine for aging. 2,004 Views Tasted Aug 8, 2015 |
