2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois
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Tasting notes
The Croix de Bois is bright and lifted – the concentrated strawberry aromas bursting from the glass. The palate is wonderfully soft and silky, both rich and juicy. This is so bright, so upfront with lovely clarity and purity of fruit. There is good mid-palate density but it is not at all heavy. More savoury fired-earth mineral tones come through on the long, saline finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Another star of the vintage, Chapoutier's 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois features attractive scents of crushed stone, dried herbs, fresh cherries and red raspberries. It's medium to full-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and nicely concentrated fruit. It comes across as elegant and long, not overly extracted or tannic.
Slightly deeper hued, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Croix De Bois sees a touch more stems (25%) and is brought up in concrete as well. It has a more floral, vibrant style compared to the Barbe Rac, with Bing cherries, forest floor, violets, and peppery herbs, as well as a Grand Cru Burgundy-like sense of elegance and refinement on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with fine tannins and a gorgeous finish, it ranks with the gems in the vintage.
A single varietal Grenache vinified from biodynamically certified grapes, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois aged for 14 to 16 months in stainless steel tanks. The result is a vivid red wafting from the glass with aromas of cooked red and black fruits, abundant exotic spices, crème de cassis and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it is framed by velvety tannins, flawlessly balanced by lively acidity and closes with a long-lasting finish.
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Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro
Red
Dry