Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2016 Clos des Papes | Rhône

For generations, Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape red has embodied a demanding vision of a legendary terroir. In the heart of this historic village, the Avril family has been managing a vineyard for generations, divided into some twenty parcels spread across the entire appellation, covering a wide variety of soils and exposures, all of which are cultivated using organic methods. Here, rounded pebbles, sand and sandstone interact with a mosaic of grape varieties, dominated by Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, complemented by rarer varieties such as Counoise, Vaccarèse and Muscardin. Following in his father's footsteps, Paul Vincent Avril brings his own personal touch to the wine estate, with an increasingly refined approach to his Châteauneuf du Pape red cuvées from an early age. Le Clos des Papes thus cultivates a style of depth and elegance, favoring traditional, spontaneous winemaking, without excessive extraction, and prolonged ageing in old tuns, banishing new wood to preserve the balance of the blend and the pure expression of Châteauneuf du Pape terroirs.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Clos des Papes red Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the most accomplished cuvées in the southern Rhône Valley. Its greatness lies not only in its power, but in its ability to stand the test of time with impressive regularity. Each vintage reveals a subtle balance between generosity and freshness, supported by a concentrated, always legible body. This is a wine that is seductive in its youth, after a long decanting, but which blossoms fully after a decade or so, reaching peaks of complexity after twenty years.

This red Châteauneuf du Pape opens with aromas of black cherry and ripe raspberry, accompanied by notes of garrigue and pepper that reinforce its character and power. Fine touches of leather, tobacco and undergrowth suggest the wine's evolution towards an even more complex bouquet. Intense, deep aromas, marked by great elegance.

The concentrated material asserts a powerful character, yet it's the suppleness of the silky, perfectly blended tannins that attracts the most attention. The fresh, concentrated aromas of garrigue, black fruits and spices continue right through to the finish, which is endlessly persistent and graceful.