2018 Cuvée Papale Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

Tasting Notes

Classically spicy Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Blended by Alex Favier, one of the region's best winemakers, this is an archetypal and rustic Châteauneuf-du-Pape; spiced black fruit aromas and a velvety, warm palate.

Production Method

In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the soils are free-draining clay and sand, strewn with the famous galets roulés - large, round pebbles covering the soil. The Galets act like night storage heaters, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, creating a warm microclimate around vines and ripening the grapes very quickly. Vines are trained en gobelet (bush vines) as dictated by the appellation law. Blended from selected parcels of Grenache Noir and Syrah, fermented for up to four weeks and aged mostly in cement foudres with some in old oak barrels for between 12 to 15 months.

Producer

This boutique Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer, owned and run by the Jourdan family of Domaine Chante Cigale, makes classically spicy wines from the Grenache and Syrah grapes. Its flagship wine is an archetypal and rustic Châteauneuf-du-Pape blended by Alex Favier, but don't overlook the Cicada wines as they offer bags of Mediterranean style at a great price.

Specifications