2015 Chateauneuf du Pape
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Tasting notes
The estate’s top cuvée is the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chateau Sixtine, and it's a blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah brought up mostly in older barrels, with 7% in new oak. It's more firm and focused than the sexy Cuvée du Vatican and offers lots of blackberries, black raspberry, toasted spice, licorice and garrigue aromatics. Big, rich, tannic and structured, yet gorgeously textured, give bottles 2-3 years and drink over the following decade. It bucks the vintage stereotype and offers a serious depth and richness.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Interestingly, I enjoyed this cuvée more than the other offerings from this estate. The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape has a restrained nose but is creamy and intense in the mouth, with great concentration and rich tannins that end in a long, velvety, slightly warm finish.
Deep ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry scents, along with suggestions of vanilla, candied rose and smoky Indian spices. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering sappy, deeply concentrated cherry and blackberry flavors that become more lively as the wine slowly stretches out. Shows superb energy and lift on the impressively long, gently tannic finish, which leaves behind suave floral and spicecake notes.
Barbe d'Asne, Bois Lauzon, La Crau, Le Crista, Pointu, Roumiguières. pH 3.81, TA 3.48 g/l. 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 25% Syrah. Destemmed. Vinified in stainless steel. Aged for 12 months in demi-muid (7%), new barrels (7%), used barrels (36%), cement (50%). Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Extremely ripe notes on the nose – almost caricature style. Too much! Rather a 1990s wine that is quite painful at the moment – too intense. But perhaps some palates will appreciate it. (JR)
About the producer
Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro, Syrah / Shiraz
Red
Dry