2016 Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Les Sables de la Crau
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Tasting notes
Also deeply colored, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sables de La Crau is 100% Grenache from sandy soils, and it was raised all in demi-muids. With a huge nose of blueberries, crushed flowers, cedarwood, and baking spice, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, silky style, no hard edges, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. It's one of the most profound wines I've tasted from this estate. All of these releases from Jean-Marie Royer focus on Grenache sourced from sandy soils. These are always more lightly colored yet perfumed, intense wines that have classic Grenache characters.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Limpid ruby. Powerful aromas of fresh raspberry and candied cherry pick up incense, lavender and exotic spice nuances with air. Deeply concentrated red berry preserve and spicecake flavors are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals and floral pastilles. Supple, even tannins give shape to the strikingly long, mineral-tinged finish, which emphatically echoes the floral note.
100% Grenache. Cask sample. Cooked, stewed red fruit which has a crudeness on the nose. This has all the fruit that their Prestige is missing! Slight mousy character on the finish, which undermines the freshness. (RH)