2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

Product: 20138005957
 
2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

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Description

A felicitous blend of Grenache (50 percent), Syrah (30 percent) and Mourvèdre (20 percent), the 2013 has been matured in foudre, barrique and cask and is suitably complex, without losing the wonderfully fresh and exuberant sweet mid-palate mouth-feel for which the domaine is now justly celebrated.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer

The story of Sénéchaux has a familiar refrain of low yields (22 hectolitres per hectare), a late harvest, the danger of rot in the vineyard after the coulure, and further patience required in the winery to encourage the malolactic fermentation to take place. Bernard Tranchecoste is not timid about rehearsing the problems, which is why the tasting comes as a very agreeable surprise. Heterogeneous ripening in three very different locations does not seem in any way to have affected the overall equilibrium of what will prove to be a very impressive ensemble. One of the shinning successes in the vintage is Senechaux’s 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape. Checking in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre that was aged mostly in foudre (55%), but also in barrels (35%) and concrete (10%), it offers gorgeous aromas of sweet spice, ground pepper and garrigue to go with kirsch and blackberry-styled fruit. Possessing medium-bodied richness, loads of fruit, sweet tannin and integrated acidity, it should shine on release, and evolve gracefully through 2023.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate Issue#215 Oct 2014

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate91/100
The 2013 Chteauneuf du Pape is another impeccably made, pure, fruit forward and delicious beauty that gives up plenty of Provenal charm in its black raspberry, sweet cherry, crushed flower and Provenal-herb driven personality. This was made from 52% Grenache, 28% Syrah and 20% Mourvdre that was raised in a combination of concrete tanks (15%), foudre (50%) and barrel (35%), drink bottles through 2023.
Jeb Dunnuck - 30/10/2015 Read more

About this WINE

Domaine des Senechaux

Domaine des Senechaux

Domaine des Sénéchaux is an excellent example of how a large concern – in this case the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux – should manage its purchase by investing as and where necessary. They have done this without forsaking the historical essence of the domaine, personified by longstanding régisseur Bernard Tranchecoste. Domaine des Sénéchaux dates from the 14th century, making it one of the oldest wineries of the region. It spans 26 hectares across Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 23 of which are planted with red varieties, the remainder white. Their main holdings are on the south-westerly slopes of the Bois Sénéchaux, just to the east of the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here, some of their Grenache vines are as old as 90 years old. Production remains very traditional, and they retain a simple two-wine offering. Largely, grapes are de-stalked and new oak is avoided in favour of concrete, foudres and second-use Bordeaux (Lynch Bages) barrels.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

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Southern Rhône Blend

Southern Rhône Blend

The vast majority of wines from the Southern Rhône are blends. There are 5 main black varieties, although others are used and the most famous wine of the region, Châteauneuf du Pape, can be made from as many as 13 different varieties. Grenache is the most important grape in the southern Rhône - it contributes alcohol, warmth and gentle juicy fruit and is an ideal base wine in the blend. Plantings of Syrah in the southern Rhône have risen dramatically in the last decade and it is an increasingly important component in blends. It rarely attains the heights that it does in the North but adds colour, backbone, tannins and soft ripe fruit to the blend.

The much-maligned Carignan has been on the retreat recently but is still included in many blends - the best old vines can add colour, body and spicy fruits. Cinsault is also backtracking but, if yields are restricted, can produce moderately well-coloured wines adding pleasant-light fruit to red and rosé blends. Finally, Mourvèdre, a grape from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast, has recently become an increasingly significant component of Southern Rhône blends - it often struggles to ripen fully but can add acidity, ripe spicy berry fruits and hints of tobacco to blends.

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