Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois 2020

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge is made from 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% each Counoise and Syrah, plus 20% other permitted varieties, including a healthy proportion of white grapes.

The story :
Château de Beaucastel has long been considered one of the great wines of France. It is unanimously renowned for its balance, elegance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an extraordinary terroir at the Northern end of the appellation with heavy exposure to the Mistral. All 13 varieties of the appellation have been organically grown here since the sixties.

 Location :

Châteauneuf du Pape, between Orange and Avignon, Château de Beaucastel red is a 70-hectare vineyard.

Terroir :
Château de Beaucastel is 110 hectares, with one single plot at the north of the appellation. The terroir is archetypal of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay and limestone deeper down. The vines are old and have been organically grown for 50 years, which has allowed the roots to grow exceptionally deep.
Beaucastel grows all thirteen grape varieties authorised by the appellation.

Ageing :
Each variety is harvested manually and separately. Vinification is completed in truncated oak barrels for the reductive grapes (Mourvèdre and Syrah) and in traditional tiled cement tanks for the oxidative grapes (such as Grenache). After the malolactic fermentations, the family blends the different varieties and then the wine ages in oak Foudres for a year before bottling.

Review:

Beaucastel's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is shaping up as a blend of 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% each Counoise and Syrah, plus 20% other permitted varieties, including a healthy proportion of white grapes. Complex and red-fruited, with hints of flowers and garrigue, it's expansive and richly textured on the palate, finishing long and silky.

-Wine Advocate 95-97 Points

Ogier Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Choregies is made from 90% Grenache, 7% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre.

Located in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region in the Rhône Valley, Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes is named in honor of the small 18th century oratory (oratoire in French) that overlooks its original 49.5-acre vineyard plot. In 1880, Edouard Amouroux became the owner of this parcel, which was planted to Syrah, and contained the small oratory that had been dedicated to St. Mark. By the 1920’s the Amouroux family was already bottling their own Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine from this vineyard parcel naming their vineyard Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes. As a tribute to its rich history, the wine’s distinctive label design has remained unchanged since its original design in 1926.

The Estate has prided itself on respecting time-honored wine making traditions while at the same time, incorporating modern techniques to ensure the highest quality wine possible are made each year. In 2006, Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes converted to organic farming and uses a horse-drawn plow to till the vineyard’s soils. After the grapes are hand-harvested, they are transported to winery in small baskets only to undergo vigorous selection process with a double sorting table. Depending on the vintage, the grapes are then partially (or wholly) destemmed and can be co-fermented with different varieties in order to produce a complex and pedigreed wine.Today, the estate comprises a total of 100-acres showcasing the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region’s four great soil types: galets roulés (rounded stones over sandy clay), safres (sandy soils), éclats calcaires (limestone-based clays) and red-sandstone.

The iconic estate produces three distinctive wines – a red and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a limited release cuvée, “Les Choregies du Clos de L’Oratoire des Papes”, produced only in exceptional years.

The color is an intense dark cherry with delicate ruby flashes. The nose offers a selection of subtle notes (ripe red and vanilla fruit, followed by black pepper and fresh rosewood). The attack is full of fruit and spicy complexity bringing out the tannins and freshness. Fruit aromas complete the long finish.

Enjoy with caramelized spicy rabbit, duck, roasts or an autumn dish with mushrooms or truffles and game.

Review:

Rich but restrained aromas of blueberry and blackberry become riper and more preserved on the palate of this open-knit, rounded wine. Made from 80% Grenache augmented by Mourvèdre and Syrah, it offers glossy black fruit freshened by hits of crushed granite and violet. Tannins are ripe but penetrating. It should improve well through 2030. Anna Lee C. Iijima

-Wine Enthusiast 96 Points

Clos Saint-Jean is a 41-hectare estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape run by brothers Vincent and Pascal Maurel. Considered by many critics and wine-writers as the preeminent estate espousing the modern style of winemaking in Châteauneuf, this cellar is one of the oldest in the region, having been founded in 1900 by the greatgreat-grandfather of Vincent and Pascal, Edmund Tacussel. A short time after its founding and well before the AOP of Chateauneuf-du-Pape was created in 1923, Edmund began bottling estate wines in 1910.

The farming at Clos Saint-Jean is fully sustainable due to the warm and dry climate, which prevents the need for chemical inputs. Instead, Vincent and Pascal employ organic methods for pest control, mainly pheromones, to prevent pests from taking up residence in their vines, a process called amusingly enough in French, confusion sexuelle. The vines tended manually, and harvest is conducted in several passes entirely by hand.

Combe des Fous literally means, the hill of the fool. The hill, in this case, is located in the far southern reach of Le Crau which was left barren for many centuries because the layer of galets was so exceedingly deep that everyone assumed vines could never survive there. The fool in this situation is Edmund Tacussel, the great-great-grandfather of Vincent and Pascal Maruel who planted a Grenache vineyard on this site in 1905. That old-vine Grenache form the heart of this cuvée with a small amount of Syrah, Cinsault and Vaccarèse. La Combe des Fous is only made in the best vintages.

Review:

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous is a normal blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault. Beautiful, full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe black raspberries, violets, ground pepper, lavender, and herbes de Provence all emerge from this gorgeous barrel sample, and it shows the pure, fresh, yet still concentrated style of the vintage brilliantly.

-Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 Points

Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Les Origines is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah

Matured in vats (grenache) and in oak casks (syrah and mourvèdre).

Deep and brilliant, purple-red colour. An exciting nose with aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant, cherry) spices and vanilla. This great aromatic complexity is found on the palate : the spices and ripe fruit appear with an elegant woodiness and harmonious tannins. The finish has good aromatic length and introduces a touch of liquorice and pepper.

A terrific Châteauneuf du Pape with great concentration and finesse.

Best between 2 and 20 years. Best to decant if young (less than 5 years old).

Soil type Extreme north of Châteauneuf du Pape. This plateau is made with a high quantity of red clay mixed with rocks. This area is considerated to be one of the best to produce rich and powerful red wines. By definition, LES ORIGINES will always deliver a great complexity and ageing potential. Winemaking & ageing Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats (grenache) and in oak casks (syrah and mourvèdre).

Review:

"The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Origines is also deep purple-hued and has a classic bouquet of crème de cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with notions of graphite, chocolate, and spicy wood. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, this is beautifully done and despite its more modern elevage, it has plenty of Provençal character and charm."
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 94-96+ pts

"Warm in feel, with a gush of plum puree and blackberry paste flavors, liberally laced with black licorice and roasted alder notes. A solidly built, modern version, with a nice tug of warm earth on the back end. Best from 2022 through 2034. —J.M."

- Wine Spectator's Insider (June 9th 2021), 93 pts

"Deep violet. Oak-spice- and mineral-tinged aromas of ripe cherry and black currant are joined by garrigue and floral notes that build in the glass. Alluringly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering juicy red and blue fruit preserve, succulent herb and licorice flavors braced by an undercurrent of smoky minerality. A vanilla nuance emerges on an impressively long, penetrating finish firmed by gently chewy tannins.

- Josh Raynolds" - Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2021), 94 pts

"The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape les Origines is rich and intense, a full-bodied, velvety wine with wow-level concentration. Blackberries and plums line the palate, finishing long, with hints of salted licorice. As usual, it's a blend of approximately 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah, with the Grenache maturing in tanks and the rest in older barrels."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2022), 95 pts

Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah

Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%)

It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a gorgeous perfume of crushed rocks, jammy black fruits, charcoal and graphite. Blackberry aroma with an air of dates pressed in alongside – this is sweet-noted. It is easy to appreciate, a sleek and stylish start. The palate holds excellent fruit that runs well and has kick. Its tannins move round freely and a minted finale comes forward. Its dark fruit is tasty, darkens on the finish, where tar and char from its oak enter. It is all very much together, a bundle of harmony, and will gain local attributes as it ages.

An outstanding Chateauneuf du Pape which display the best of its terroir.
The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.
Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).

The vines are 50 to 100+ year old. They are planted on red clay soils covered with pebble stones.

Harvest is destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in concrete vats (40%) and oak casks (60%).

The vineyards are located in the north of Châteauneuf du Pape. GRAND VENEUR «Vieilles Vignes» cuvee is produced from the older vines. Thanks to time and an organic growing, roots go very deep in the soil. Yields are naturally low and grapes highly concentrated.

Winemaking and aging

Pair with venisson, duck, braised lamb or strong cheese.

Review:

"The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is based on 45% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah, all destemmed and raised in 55% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, violet, graphite, fruitcake, and peppery herbs define this brilliant effort, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, seamless texture, wonderful tannins, and one heck of a great finish. This magical 2019 is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (it's brilliant even today) yet keep for 20 years or more. Châteauneuf du Pape lovers need to have this in their cellar!"

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2021),99 pts