Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesVoluptuous in texture and flamboyant in style, this 100% Roussanne highlights the silky, luscious nature of this classic Rhône grape. Matured in a combination of 55% Burgundy barrels and 45% amphora, it’s a smoky, delicately spiced white packed with juicy white peach and pear flavors. Delicious already for its opulence and fresh fruit, it should improve through 2035 and hold further. Editors’ Choice.
Nicely rendered, with waves of warmed cassis, plum pâte de fruit and raspberry reduction rolling through, carried by polished structure and laced with subtle threads of anise, red tea and sanguine. Ends with a sneaky long finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
A top-flight effort from this Brotte-owned estate, Barville's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape features alluring scents of lavender, hickory smoke and purple raspberries. A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, it's full-bodied and supple, creamy and lush, finishing long and silky. Best after 2022
Attractive plum cake, licorice and spices. Some positive dry tannins on the full-bodied palate, where there is also quite lively acidity. Slightly drying at the meaty finish. Drink or hold.
Located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape since 1931, the Brotte family own 3 exceptional estates in the Southern Rhone Valley. Here, Grenache is king and flourishes with its expressive fruit and is masterfully blended with Syrah and Mourvedre to add freshness and structure. Focused on protecting the environment, all Brotte Family estates are certified Sustainable by the Terra Vitis organization. As well as estate-grown wines, Maison Brotte collaborates with other growers to produce top quality wines from other appellations, including Condrieu, Côte Rôtie, Gigondas and Côtes de Provence. Their entire portfolio is consistently highly rated by the industries top publications and always reliable.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.