5 November 2017
On the nose a bit closed. Elegant and silky texture in the mouth. Discrete and well-rounded tannins. A little disappointing on the final, due to a slightly harsh finish. Not much persistence beside the alcohol’s feeling, that, despite being a high 15%, surprisingly show up only in the aftertaste.
Not as powerful and full-bodied as you would expect from a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wine is priced slightly above 30 CHF.
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC is located close to Avignon, where the Popes resided in their New Castle away from Rome in the 14th century (from 1309 to 1377), enjoying mainly Burgundy wines.
According to the rules of the AOC, an extensive range of 18 different grape varieties (red & white) are approved for wine production. Despite the vast choice, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds are usually dominated by Grenache (approx. 3/4 of the blend), Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grenache contributes red-fruits flavours and high potential alcohol, Syrah brings structure and spiced black-fruits notes to the blend, while Mourvèdre adds color and bitter chocolate hints.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the noblest of the southern Rhone denominations, where otherwise huge quantities of moderately priced wines are produced. These wines are highly profitable for the producers, and at the same time, according to my experience, they are a good deals for consumers in term of price/quality ratio.
Country: France
Region: Rhône Valley
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Type: Red
Vintage: 2012
Producer: Famille Brechet
Price range: Premium (30-50 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5