Historical benchmark of its appellation, Clos des Papes 2024 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC asserts itself as an essential chapter in the library of great wines. Its writing, precise and luminous, stems from a stony terroir swept by the mistral and from a craftsman’s hand that prefers restraint to showiness. For lovers of profound wines and collectors who conceive the cellar as a gallery of time, it offers a twofold promise: youthful fruit brightness and the complexity that only patience grants. This vintage, from vines grown organically, draws its strength from the galets roulés that accumulate daytime heat and release it at night, promoting harmonious ripeness. The result is a broad, noble red, sharpened by traditional vinification and ageing in large oak vats, designed to preserve the grape’s spirit. An exceptional creation that transcends the ordinary to reveal the French art of living, blending generosity with finesse of texture.

Blend and vinification

The backbone of the wine is a classic appellation blend, led by approximately 65% Grenache, complemented by 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% other varieties. This chorus of varieties interacts with Miocene soils covered by galets roulés, true thermal accumulators that guide the grapes toward calm ripeness. The practice of certified organic viticulture expresses a clear requirement: healthy vines and clean fruit. Vinification respects the fruit: the wine is unfiltered and undergoes an egg white fining, ensuring a silky texture without forcing the structure. Ageing lasts 12 to 15 months in large oak vats, a vessel that rounds the edges, refines the aromatic palette and lets the terroir’s score unfold. The 2024 vintage registers around 15% vol., a power tamed by inner freshness and a sapid quality that invites cellaring.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Deep, vibrant red with a clear brilliance that suggests measured concentration and a generous core of fruit.
• Nose: Basket of cherry, raspberry and blackberry, threaded with gentle spices, pepper, garrigue and a touch of liquorice. With aeration emerge fine cocoa nuances, a hint of undergrowth and a balsamic breath.
• Palate: Silky entry then broad development, juicy and focused fruit, ripe tannins with a velvety grain. Balance asserts itself, marrying fruity depth and a spicy lift, extended by a long, slightly mineral finish that signs the terroir.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve this Châteauneuf-du-Pape in large tulip glasses after generous airing to allow the bouquet to open. When young, decanting will showcase the fruit’s flesh and the precision of the spices. Cellaring in a cool, dark and stable cellar will allow the wine to unfold gracefully over the years. Patience before opening is recommended to gain complexity, then controlled service will respect the wine’s texture and length.

Food pairings

• Starters: truffled country terrine, confit lamb shoulder served as small bites, grilled vegetables with olive oil.
• Main courses: roasted côte de bœuf, spiced poussin/pigeon, Provençal daube with black olives, braised veal with a reduced jus.
• Game: royal hare, venison with grand veneur sauce, partridge roasted with garrigue herbs.
• Cheeses: aged sheep tomme, old Comté, farmhouse Saint-Nectaire, textures that converse with the wine’s depth.
• Desserts: lightly sweetened dark chocolate entremets, praline crisp pastry, where noble bitterness resonates with the wine’s spicy dimension.

Tasting occasions

Clos des Papes 2024 is the ideal companion for moments when one seeks more than mere gustatory pleasure:

• A large family gathering celebrating regional cooking at its finest.
• A gastronomic dinner where precise cooking meets the depth of a characterful red.
• A connoisseur's gift for a demanding enthusiast, promising a journey through cellar time.

Characteristics

• Name: Clos des Papes 2024 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Type: Red wine
• Vintage: 2024
• Grape varieties: Grenache 65%, Mourvèdre 20%, Syrah 10%, others 5%
• Alcohol: around 15% vol.
• Ageing: 12 to 15 months in large oak vats, unfiltered wine, egg white fining
• Cellaring: to open from 2030, potential until 2044 depending on storage
• Sulfites: contains sulfites