2018 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres
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Tasting notes
Vivid ruby. Expansive red fruit and floral aromas pick up exotic spice and incense flourishes as the wine opens up. Juicy and penetrating in the mouth, offering intense cherry, Chambord and baking spice flavors that smoothly blend depth and energy. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift on the mineral-driven finish, which is framed by discreet tannins.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
A blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvèdre, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Safres makes the most of this vintage and sports incredible elegance and finesse while still packing solid depth of fruit and concentration. Beautiful notes of kirsch, licorice, toasted spices, and flowery incense all flow to a medium to full-bodied 2018 that has polished tannins and a great finish. The balance, purity, and finesse here are top notch.
The full-bodied and silky-textured 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres is a rich, corpulent offering, overflowing with black cherries and blackberries. Hints of dried spices, black olives and dark chocolate provide a modicum of complexity, but this wine comes across as powerful and ripe—impressive, but lacking a bit of nuance and length.