2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is the best vintage since 2016. The wines are just great. Forward in style, with concentration, vibrancy, purity, length, and balance, they are about to hit the stores. Grenache and Chateauneuf du Pape lovers should be all over these wines!
Complete report and buying guide for the best 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape with tasting notes and ratings for the top wines, and best buys of the vintage.
2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a vintage marked by drought. Most growers experienced low yields, but good quality in a very fine style can be found all over the appellation.
The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a strong contender for the best vintage the appellation has ever produced! The wines are extraordinary. They are elegant, complex, fresh, sensuous and richly textured, with great purity of fruit. These wines belong in your cellar!
2013 Chateauneuf du Pape might be a challenging vintage. But several producers managed to make some very nice wines in a great style with freshness, purity and charm.
On Grenache… “If Grenache doesn’t get FULLY ripe, it holds no interest. One can make some skinny-ass Syrah, which is en vogue among some. Syrah under those conditions might still hold some odd interest. But that is not the case with Grenache.”
Every vintage offers surprises and 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is no exception. There are some true gems with a few wines that are so good, they transcend the vintage.