2021 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous is a normal blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault. Slightly deeper hued compared to the Vieilles Vignes, it has an incredibly Burgundian style in its ripe cherry and raspberry fruits as well as leafy herbs, graphite, and floral, spicy aromas and flavors. Ultra-fine, medium to full-bodied, and exceedingly elegant, with silky tannins, it's a dead ringer for a great Clos Vougeot. 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.