2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Saumades, Rhône

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Saumades, Rhône

Product: 20198005322
 
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Domaine des Saumades, Rhône

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Description

A Grenache dominated blend that includes 10% Mourvèdre, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape comes from the northern part of the Pignan lieu-dit and was destemmed and brought up all in old barrels. It has a classic feel in its red and blue fruits as well as notes of peppery garrigue and violets. These carry to a medium-bodied 2019 that has wonderful purity, a sense of freshness and vibrancy, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It should be a classic Châteauneuf du Pape that’s going to benefit from short term cellaring and have 15 years or so of prime drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (Jun 2020)

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Critics reviews

Jeb Dunnuck91-93/100

A Grenache dominated blend that includes 10% Mourvèdre, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape comes from the northern part of the Pignan lieu-dit and was destemmed and brought up all in old barrels. It has a classic feel in its red and blue fruits as well as notes of peppery garrigue and violets. These carry to a medium-bodied 2019 that has wonderful purity, a sense of freshness and vibrancy, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It should be a classic Châteauneuf du Pape that’s going to benefit from short term cellaring and have 15 years or so of prime drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (Jun 2020)

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About this WINE

Domaine Des Saumades

Domaine Des Saumades

Four generations of Moussets have been winemakers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. However, in 1995, Frank Mousset, whose day job is at another winery with his brother-in-law, was approached to buy a 2.5-hectare parcel in the Pignan lieu-dit, beside Château Rayas. Franck and wife Murielle, then opened Domaine des Saumades, only making wine here.

The sandy soils here are perfect for Grenache. Franck also had the foresight to plant Mourvèdre here around six years ago. He believes Mourvèdre is key to countering the effects of climate change on Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s wines. Adding freshness, balance and Franck says, getting better annually in this parcel (currently, converting to organic certification). Since 2019 he has added 10% Mourvèdre into his otherwise pure Grenache red wine. The wines were very good but, with Mourvèdre, they are stunning. The white, typically 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette and 25% Bourboulenc, displays myriad flavours from fresh citrus to warming vanilla. This is what Châteauneuf-du-Pape is all about.

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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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Grenache/Garnacha

Grenache/Garnacha

Grenache (Noir) is widely grown and comes in a variety of styles. Believed to originate in Spain, it was, in the late 20th century, the most widely planted black grape variety in the world. Today it hovers around seventh in the pecking order. It tends to produce very fruity, rich wines that can range quite widely in their level of tannin.

In many regions – most famously the Southern Rhône, where it complements Syrah and Mourvèdre, among other grapes – it adds backbone and colour to blends, but some of the most notable Châteauneuf du Pape producers (such as Château Rayas) make 100 percent Grenache wines. The grape is a component in many wines of the Languedoc (where you’ll also find its lighter-coloured forms, Grenache Gris and Blanc) and is responsible for much southern French rosé – taking the lead in most Provence styles.

Found all over Spain as Garnacha Tinta (spelt Garnaxa in Catalonia), the grape variety is increasingly detailed on wine labels there. Along with Tempranillo, it forms the majority of the blend for Rioja’s reds and has been adopted widely in Navarra, where it produces lighter styles of red and rosado (rosé). It can also be found operating under a pseudonym, Cannonau, in Sardinia.

 

Beyond Europe, Grenache is widely planted in California and Australia, largely thanks to its ability to operate in high temperatures and without much water. Particularly in the Barossa Valley, there are some extraordinary dry-farmed bush vines, some of which are centuries old and produce wines of startling intensity.

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