Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reccomendations

Filed in archive French Wines on September 8, 2007

Lately I've seen more than a few articles on Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France's famous wine from the the Rhône Valley. The name "Châteauneuf-du-Pape" means "The Pope's new castle," referencing the period during the 14 Century when Avignon was home of the papal court. Typically Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a high alcohol wine, often made from a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. (With this in mind, if you enjoy drinking Châteauneuf-du-Pape you might enjoy some of the Australian GSM wines.) Thanks to Robert Parker, the wine has risen from one of minimal appeal in the United States to a rather popular variety. And as with many things, greater demand has meant a greater price tag.

The San Fransisco Chronicle offered a few suggestions. There are several more in the article itself, but here are a few:

Rating: THREE STARS 2004 Chateau Rayas Reserve ($150) Opulent and silky black fruit and cherry, with raw almonds, violets, mushroom and sandalwood, create a perfect balance of dark and light. Almost all of these characteristics are carried through on the palate with soft, fine-grained tannins, all draped on a structure that will last. This is a wine with an endless finish.

Rating: THREE AND A HALF STARS 2005 Le Vieux Donjon ($55) A luscious nose of warm, toasted chutney and spice, fine black pepper, licorice and dried herbs rides on sweet black fruit. On the palate it's refined, loaded with fruit, ending on a bright note. "Simply classic," wrote one panelist.

Rating: THREE STARS 2005 Feraud-Brunel ($38) A partnership between two talented growers, Laurence Feraud and Andre Brunel, has produced this wine. A complex, heady aroma of cherry and bramble fruit is layered by a floral perfume of orange blossom and jasmine. At the same time black pepper and tar are present. All these follow through as it presents on the palate. It is briny, juicy and high in alcohol, yet somehow manages not to diminish the finer notes presented at first.

If you're balking at the price tag, you might want to consider trying some of the other Cote-du-Rhône wines. One of my favorites is La Chasse du Pape Prestige Cotes du Rhône, which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. It's full of spice and red fruit, but comes with a price tag that is a bit more budget-friendly. Depending where you are, you can probably find it for around $10 (give or take). It might not carry the prestigious classification, but in my book, it's a great wine for everyday drinking.