From: Southern Rhône, France
Varietal: Grenache
Taste & Critical Acclaim: 96 points Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the nose on the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Puy Rolland, which is subtle and complex, with beautiful strawberry and framboise-like fruits as well as notes of rose petals, spring flowers, spice, and loamy earth. Pure finesse on the palate, this medium to full-bodied effort has ultra-fine tannins, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's never the biggest or richest wine in a vintage, but it stands out for its purity, balance, and incredible finesse. It can be enjoyed any time over the coming 15 years. (11/2022)
93 points James Suckling
Bright aromas of strawberries, raspberries, thyme, rosemary and hints of stones. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture caressing the palate all along towards the fruity, juicy and vivid finish. A fruity and silky red from 100% old vine grenache. (5/2023)
Pairing: Wines like Chateauneuf-du-Pape pair best with barbecued beef ribs, duck, hamburgers, venison stew, mushrooms, oxtail, osso buco, BBQ in general, and lamb chops. These red wines from the Rhône Valley are spicy, dense, earthy, and rich; hence, they pair well with meat. Since this wine region produces blended wines from different grapes, they effortlessly complement many dishes like the ones above. In addition, dishes with a Mediterranean flair or that incorporate Mediterranean herbs also pair fantastically well alongside wines like this one (check out the recipe below).
Grilled Pork With Whole Spices and Garlic Bread
By Melissa Clark
About. Located at one of the highest points in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château Font du Loup, which translates to ‘fountain of the wolves’, is named after the natural springs in the area where the wolves would come to drink.
Font du Loup has been in the Melia family since 1942 and is now run by the charming Anne-Charlotte Melia-Bachas and husband Laurent. Font du Loup has roughly 20 hectares (organically farmed – although not certified), including holdings in the La Crau vineyards, and is planted on mostly sandy soil with vines that reach 100 years old. It is located in one of the coolest appellation places with slow ripening of the grapes. The wines are made in an elegant, pure, pretty style and are as warm and inviting as the good Anne-Charlotte and Laurent.
Font du Loup is quite unique in that their vineyards are on north-facing slopes and the soils have a high percentage of sand. These north-facing, sandy plots tend to ripen more slowly. As such, they harvest on average two weeks later than other estates. This results in wines that are more complex, aromatic, and contain less alcohol. The style here is towards elegance and finesse rather than power and extraction. For us, their style adds a refreshing change of pace to a region whose wines have become a touch heavy.
Check out the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintage report.
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Grenache Plays Nice
April 29th, 2022 by European Cellars
