2021 Chateauneuf du Pape

Leading off the reds, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape reveals a vivid ruby hue as well as terrific black cherry and black raspberries, gorgeous Provençal herbs, pepper, and floral nuances. It's ripe, medium-bodied, has a beautiful sense of elegance, and fine tannins. While this estate produces incredible wines in truly great vintages, it’s in the more challenging vintages where you see the strength of both the team and the terroir. The 2021s here are clearly some of the top wines in the vintage. They show the fresher, more elegant style of the vintage while still bringing beautiful depth of fruit and texture. Unfortunately, this state was dramatically impacted by the hailstorm in 2022, and as such, none of the wines were ready to be tasted. I’ll report on these wines in next year’s report, but in the meantime, if you’re looking to purchase 2021s from Chateauneuf du Pape, don’t miss these.