Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge 2018
Château Mont-Redon
Terroir: Château Mont-Redon owns 100 hectares of the most perfectly-sited vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
More than half of their vineyards are planted on “diluvium alpin” soil on the highest Mistral (dry southern winds) blown plateaus of the appellation at elevations above 500 feet. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famous for it’s “galet’s” or round, heat absorbing pebbles that have been shaped and polished over thousands of years by the Rhône River and spread over time along the appellations highest plains. In some portions of the vineyard this layer can exceed 2 meters in depth forcing the vines roots deep in search of the layer of red clay that lies beneath. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grown in these conditions produce wines that are generous, powerful, tannic and concentrated.
The remaining vineyards sit in two distinct soils, the first being primarily sand that was created when the Rhône River shifted course bringing with it the smallest parts of the soil, which broke into smaller pieces still (sand). These soils increases the aromatic character of Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.
Urgonian Limestone soils make up the remaining vineyards. Soils here are shallower and give excellent results with the white varieties, rich with aromas of white and citrus fruits.
Vinification: Grapes are selected and harvested by hand and transported to the winery in small containers. Bunches are destemmed and vinified in temperature controlled tanks with frequent punch down using the “pigeage” technique to extract the finest tannins from the skins. Each varietal is vinified separately. Following fermentation, 50% of the wine is aged in small oak barrels in the cellars for 12 months with the remainder remaining in cask. The wines are then blended and aged an additional 4 months prior to bottling.
Additional Information
Intense nose with red fruit aromas combined with complex smokiness. Tight and focused tannins on the palate. Enjoyable now but requires a few years of bottle maturation to fully integrate aging notes. Very elegant and refined finish.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Winemaker: Pierre Fabre
- Sustainability: Sustainable Practices
- Soil: Large stones, sand, red clay
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Pack Size: 12/375ml, 12/750ml
- Varietals: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Cinsault
Recent Press
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Score: 93 Points
Wine Spectator Author: James Molesworth
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022Dark and winey, with waves of ganache, steeped plum, blackberry reduction and melted black licorice rolling through. The finish is scored with warm earth and smoldering tobacco notes, showing ample grip for the cellar. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse and Cinsault. Best from 2023 through 2036. 18,300 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. -
Score: 92 Points
Wine Enthusiast Author: Anna Lee C. Iijima
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2020"While the nose is more mineral than fruity, zesty lemon and grapefruit abound on the palate of this medium-bodied white. It's silky and mouthclinging but balanced by crisp acidity and a lingering hazelnut finish. Ready already it should gain savory complexities through 2030." -
The Wine Advocate Author: Joe Czerwinski
Date: Friday, August 30, 2019"A gentle mélange of ripe cherries, dusty earth and dried spices mingle on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape. A blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 8.5% Mourvèdre and 1.5% other permitted varieties, it's full-bodied, showing some silky tannins on the cocoa-tinged finish."Grade: 89-91 points
