Description: Le Petit Vin d'Avril 2024 | Clos des Papes
There are appellation wines, and there are winemaker’s wines. Le Petit Vin d’Avril belongs to the latter category. Under the guidance of Paul-Vincent Avril, this red cuvée from Clos des Papes deliberately defies the constraints of the appellation. Classified as a Vin de France, it embraces the freedom to blend vintages and to prioritize enjoyment over showmanship.
Terroir and Grape Varieties
The vineyards are located along the banks of the Rhône, on the edge of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. This proximity places the wine in a region that is the absolute benchmark for southern Rhône reds, while allowing it a degree of flexibility that the appellation does not permit.
Round pebbles, sand, and sandstone form warm, well-drained soils, low in organic matter, which encourage the vines’ roots to grow deep. These terroirs release gentle heat at night, promoting slow and steady ripening of the grape varieties, even in cooler years. The blend is broad and deliberately diverse: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Marselan. The reason so few estates allow themselves such a wide range—beyond the confines of the appellation alone—is primarily because such a blend requires unparalleled expertise.
The principle behind this blend is also unique: two-thirds of the year’s harvest (in this case, the 2024 vintage) is blended with one-third of the previous year’s reserve wine, aged in old casks for one year. This one-third reserve component imparts exceptional depth and character.
Viticulture and Winemaking
The estate practicescertifiedorganic farming. The grapes are harvested by hand and fully destemmed. Fermentation is driven by indigenous yeasts, without external inoculation.Clos des Papes cultivates a style characterized by depth and elegance, favoring traditional and spontaneous winemaking methods without excessive extraction. Aging takes place in old casks, without the use of new wood.
Le Petit Vin d'April 2024 | Clos des Papes: The Sommelier’s Review
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin
This wine moves me with its sincerity. Paul-Vincent Avril could have made it a prestigious second wine, dressing it up with a serious label. He chose the exact opposite: vinified with the same care as his top vintages, it is above all a wine that is unapologetically meant for pleasure. The blend of grape varieties and vintages defies the usual Rhône conventions, giving the wine a complexity and depth that you wouldn’t expect at first glance. Above all, it is the wine of a free-spirited winemaker who has mastered the rules of his craft well enough to break free from them. As a true wine for immediate enjoyment, it is best enjoyed now, at 17°C, after a brief aeration. It will develop greater depth in two to three years.
The Nose
The nose opens with a concentrated bouquet bursting with ripe red fruits and hints of noble spices. In the background, one detects the lightness of fresh peony petals, mingled with a hint of blood and pepper.
Palate
The palate is supple and round, structured by fine, well-integrated tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. The wine’s aging brings a spicy aromatic depth to the red fruit flavors, which linger on a fresh, easy-drinking finish.
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