2010 Chateauneuf du Pape

A beautiful blend of 70% Grenache and equal parts Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, the 2010 Domaine Font de Michelle Châteauneuf-du-Pape is loaded with sweet red and black fruits, spice, rolled stone-like minerality, subtle garrigue, and hints of toast and brioche on the nose. This medium to full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape is classy and refined on the palate and shows solid concentration through the middle, beautiful richness, and fine tannin on the finish. Impressive stuff, it will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age, and age gracefully for 10-15 years.

Certified organic. Lieux-dits Font de Michelle, Croix de Bois. 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault. 20% aged in barrique, 20% in foudre and 60% in concrete. 80,000 bottles. A little pale. Simple jammy nose. Very rich and fruity and quite intense on the palate – just much richer than most 2010s. Lots of claret-like tannin on the finish. And then it fades a little fast. (JR)

Bio Certifiée France. Font de Michelle. 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 10% Bourboulenc. 90% élevage in inox and 10% in barrique. 10,000 bottles. Interesting vegetal aromas. Light honey character. Some austerity on the finish maintains its profile. Persistent. (JR)