2016 Chateauneuf du Pape
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Tasting notes
Glistening violet. Deeply perfumed dark fruit liqueur, incense and allspice scents show impressive clarity and pick up a smoky mineral element with air. Sappy, appealingly sweet and concentrated, offering spice-laced black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors and a hint of cured meat. Closes on a repeating mineral note, displaying sharp focus, chewy tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.
Critic scores
Average Score
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The second year Vignon has produced this cuvée, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape XV is a plush but restrained blend that incorporates more Mourvèdre and less Syrah, with the Grenache and Mourvèdre co-fermented when possible. It shows a bit of toasty oak up front but balances that with ample black cherry fruit and soft, dusty tannins. Long and harmonious on the finish, it should drink well on release in 2019 and for a decade or more after that.
Mostly Grenache, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Xavier comes from all the terroirs of the region. Its deep ruby color is followed by a complex, elegant red that has medium to full body, good acidity, and classic notes of garrigue, leather, underbrush, and ripe red and black fruits. It's a beautifully textured, elegant, and balanced effort to drink over the coming decade. Xavier Vignon is one of the top oenologists in the Southern Rhône and releases a bevy of outstanding wines under his own label.
Toasty aromas plus cooked black fruits. Lovely lifted floral aroma on the palate, bold fruit flavours on the mid palate and a light herby character lingering on the finish. Good stuff! This is boldly flavoured but not too heavy, with nuance and delicacy. (RH)
About the producer
Xavier Vignon has become one of the Rhône Valley’s most accomplished winemakers. Despite not owning his own vineyards, Vignon’s experience consulting for over 500 different vignerons in the region has given him incredible access to some of the Rhône’s finest terroirs.