External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.7 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 177 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by mclanew on 12/24/2023 flawed bottle: Vinegar even with a good fill (254 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 3/17/2023: Supper with Frank (Porcine, Oxford Street): Savoury, perhaps a little cellar stink, meaty, sour and sweet red fruits, garrigue, leather, peppery and sweet spice, a little darker fruit here as well. Juicy, talc textured tannins, slightly baked red fruits, earth, that cellar stink is a slight tinge in the under palate, savoury, meaty, a little black pepper...good to tidy up now (900 views) | | | Tasted by TXRhoneRanger on 10/7/2022 & rated 95 points: Totally singing. Complete. Fully integrated. Earl Grey tea, red fruit compote, diminshed garrigue, velvety texture, and zero hard edges. This is a great bottle that was in a super spot. Made 8 peoples jaw hit the floor with lamb dinner. When Pape is on, it's on, and this one was ON. Super. (1057 views) | | | Tasted by pbaek on 11/27/2021: Down to my last couple of bottles. Kirsch notes, raspberry, quite sweet-fruited. Airy, almost elegant, sprinkles of pepper. Great wine, love this domaine for its purity of fruit in the wines. (1928 views) | | | Tasted by TomBear on 8/25/2021 & rated 93 points: Was the 1995. Lovely wine. Plum, blackberry. Leather and earth on the secondary. 2 hours plus decant. (1779 views) | | | Tasted by jondrinkswine on 7/12/2021 & rated 95 points: Dried red cherries, dried cherries, dried raspberries and dried roses. Just the right amount of new French oak and maturation creates a pronounced spiciness and earth quality to this wine with black pepper, cloves, smoke, tobacco, cigar box, forest floor, game meat, figs and chocolate flavors. The finish is long and spicy with a lingering tangy sensation behind the jaw in the back palate. The tannins here have a sharp quality, and the oak spice + sharp tannin + elevated alcohol all accentuate one another in a way that presents itself as a lot of spice (rather than an unpleasant burning sensation). Looking forward to enjoying this one again soon. (1789 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 3/12/2021 & rated 92 points: Fresh and energetic, with strawberries, blood orange, smoked meats and some iron. Clean and quaffable. Impressive longevity. (1906 views) | | | Tasted by cakie on 10/29/2020 & rated 91 points: Latest bottle much better than previous, hour decanted and well worth a try. Some menthol and a little herb but classic CNDP underneath. It’s not a classic but bery enjoyable (1766 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 8/23/2020: Chateauneuf du Pape lunch (Frank's place in Matraville): From Coravin. Initially there is a bit of cellar stink and slight volatility, then red currant and red berry fruit, leather, charcuterie, earth, mushroom and a touch of raisins with time. In the mouth there is juicy acidity, it's savoury and meaty with red currants and red berry fruit, still has chalky tannins but proves wetly enjoyable. (1702 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 7/14/2020: Phil's Birthday tasting (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Farmyard, leather, volatile acidity, raspberries, a little asian five spice. Juicy, red fruit, spice, leathery tannins. The VA note not so obvious on the palate. Nice but also a touch of damp stink on the finish. Perhaps drink up now. (1614 views) | | | Tasted by Vini Ciclismo on 6/7/2020 & rated 92 points: Medium pale ruby red.
Sweet red berries, leather, a little earth.
Supple, lightly spiced, plums and damson, leather, a nice gamey streak through it. All very well balanced. Certainly developed but on a lovely plateau where fruit still dominates. (1500 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 4/4/2020: From Coravin. Slightly volatile, biscuit, red berries, raspberry, slightly meaty notes, gamey, garrigue, wood glue, marzipan. ooh, fresh and rather lovely on the palate; no volatility, red berries; raspberry, sweet spice. Long. Tannins resolved. On the way to Burgundyland... (1497 views) | | | Tasted by pbaek on 4/4/2020: This continue to show well. The fruit is still airy and wonderfully spicy, and there is now tertiary notes kicking in. My daughter, who has no experience with wine, loved this. Great wine. (1113 views) | | | Tasted by AudunG on 2/1/2020 & rated 89 points: Fruity aromas with some wet wool notes. Meaty. A rather coarse and not too complex C-d-P. (1164 views) | | | Tasted by pbaek on 1/8/2019: Another great bottle. Airy fruit, great purity, lightness. Drinking very well now, just hitting the point where there’s still fruit and tertiary notes. To me, much better than the sweeter, darker, heavier Centenaire. (2021 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 12/29/2018: Coravin fun with Mats & Fredrik part two (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Gamey, leathery, red berry fruit, sweet spice, slightly funky also a slightly baked earthy caramel note. On the palate it's juicy, strawberry, sweet spice, fine tannic burr, medium plus length. (1967 views) | | | Tasted by beatles on 4/11/2018 & rated 91 points: Tasted vis-avis the Centenaire, this is totally different - and much easier to drink. It's pure fun, sexy wine, light, very much on the sweet Grenache, so easy to drink - and such a joy. I have drunk to a case of this, and many bottles are in my exprience gone by now, but this example was very fine. Dont't keep it, drink it. #ChampionsLeague #PB (2642 views) | | | Tasted by pbaek on 4/11/2018: Luckily another great bottle. Lovely easy-flowing Grenache, light in color, en finesse. Notes of raspberry and kirsch, garrigue notes on the back. When this wine is on, it is a beauty and tonight it was a beauty. Tasted up against the Centenaire, a much darker, more serious wine. For joy and fun, this is the bottle we reached out for. CL nigh chez Lillelund. (2661 views) | | | Tasted by Fausto_Coppi on 3/1/2018 & rated 88 points: Lovely balance of mature red fruit and soft tannins. Quite complex flavours with long firm finish (2362 views) | | | Tasted by Mr T on 9/26/2017: seemingly over the hill. I let it breather, but very pale and very sherried on nose and and palate....maybe a mireacle when I revisit but not likely (2429 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 1/5/2017: Coravin fun - Plundering the cellar (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Almost raspberry, even rhubarb compote, slight leather. With agitation there is a porty element, a touch of biscuit, cheese and sweet tobacco leaf. Some cherry elements here as well. Wonderful nose. More of the same on the palate, really good and very yummy. Best bottle of this vintage I've had by a long shot. Tannins are barely discernible and it's just beginning to stray into that Pinotesque territory - this one reminds me of the Copain En Haut Kiser I had - for some odd reason. (3995 views) | | | Tasted by MarkLA on 11/12/2016: One can notice plenty of warm fruit in the midpalate, which is kept in check by ample grip on finish due to the mourvedre in the blend. Tasted again 2 days later, the fruit has melded into the background, complemented by aged leather & mahogany notes. With the tannin less perceptible, the wine is more seamless. Drink or hold, according to preference. (2985 views) | | | Tasted by aagrawal on 11/1/2016 & rated 90 points: Coravin fail... attempted to inject the argon and the wine leaked alongside the cork, so I opened the bottle. Pale ruby color with some bricking; aromatic nose with plenty of red fruit, almost pinot-like with some additional funk and gameyness; palate is light bodied, plenty of red fruit on the palate, fresh medium acid, low integrated tannin, nice smooth texture throughout; medium to medium-plus finish. Very nicely balanced overall with surprising concentration and depth of fruit for a wine nearly 20 years of age. Ready now, my last bottle. 90-91 (3145 views) | | | Tasted by pbaek on 10/22/2016: Robert Kacher import. Still such a happy, Grenache-driven wine showing pretty cherry and strawberry fruit with just a touch of tertiary flavors. The fruit is still very much alive and by no means warm or cooked. Cool, understated style, very pure. Provence in a bottle. (3058 views) | | | Tasted by aagrawal on 4/20/2016 & rated 90 points: Coravin 4/20/16. Clear ruby with significant bricking and tawny edges; nose is aromatic, initially almost funky and some concern that it was corked, but that blows off and there is good underlying red fruit, somewhat gamey, meaty, caramel, licorice; palate is medium bodied, medium acid, low tannin, some remaining red fruit; medium finish with slight black licorice. A well balanced, traditionally styled CnDP at full maturity but not over the hill, likely has 2-3 years left at this plateau, but not as good as my last bottle (less juicy fruit). Enjoyable, pairs well with food, but I wouldn't buy more as it's not my style. 89-90 (3315 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/10/2017)
(Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Delving into the Languedoc Roussillon, Issue #7 (3/28/2011)
(Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, January/February 2001, IWC Issue #94
(Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, January/February 2000, IWC Issue #88
(Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/5/2013)
(Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Bricked medium dark red violet color; dried plum, Jolly Roger candy, tart cherry, baked plum, confectioner's sugar nose; advanced, tobacco jus, murky, tired palate; medium-plus finish (storage issues, or has the wine really gotten this advanced?) 89 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (10/2/2009)
(Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Dark red violet color with light floating sediment and pale meniscus; tart berry, smoke, cigar box, graphite nose with a little brett; tart berry, graphite, smoke, cigar box, tart plum palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. 92 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (8/27/2005)
(Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Mulberry, cherry nose; lovely, berry, cherry, mulberry, brambly palate; medium-plus finish 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Producer website - Read about Les Cailloux
The Brunel family have been making wine in the Chateauneuf du Pape region since the 17th Century and the estate, currently under the guidance of Andre, is without doubt making some of the finest wines in the region, whether they are the entry level Cotes du Rhone or Chateauneuf du Pape, Les Cailloux. Since 1989, from a small parcel of land whose vines average over 115 years in age, he has in the finest vintages produced a separate "Cuvee du Centenaire".
André Brunel owns this well-known Chateauneuf du Pape property. He is the third generation of his family to manage the property. Fittingly, Domaine Les Cailloux takes its name from the cailloux roulés, which is the the French term for the large stones found littered all over the Chateauneuf du Pape region, and of course their vineyards.
The entire property of Domaine Les Cailloux is vast, covering well over 50 acres. Their vineyards occupy 17.3 hectares. The main grape variety they grow is Grenache. Some of their vines are among the oldest in Chateauneuf du Pape. They are close to 120 years old! The terroir is filled with loam, limestone and as we mentioned earlier, stones. They also have plantings on sandy terroir as well.
The Les Cailloux standard Chateauneuf du Pape is usually a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 3% of different grape varieties. The vines are on average 60 years of age. After harvest, about 70% of the grapes are destemmed. Following fermentation, the Grenache ages in enamel coated vats. The Syrah and Mourvedre are aged in 1 – 3 year-old small barrels. On average, the wines remain in vat or barrel for between 15 to 20 months, depending on the character and grape varietal.
The top wine of Les Cailloux is their Cuvee Centenaire, which made its debut in 1989. comes from their oldest Grenache from vines averaging over 100 years of age. About 10% Syrah and an equal portion of 10% Mourvedre are included in the blend. For this special wine, the Grenache ages for 15 to 20 months in a combination of foudres and one to three year old barrels. The other varieties age in demi muids. Not much of this is made, production hovers close to 500 cases per vintage, when the wine is produced.
Domaine de 18 hectares à Châteauneuf-du-Pape qui doit son nom à l’une des douze parcelles qui le composent, celle de Farguerol au sol typique recouvert de cailloux roulés.
C ‘est cette parcelle qui est représentée sur l’étiquette et dont on a fêté le centenaire de la plantation qui a eu lieu en 1989 en élaborant pour la première fois une cuvée spéciale du millésime 1989, la « Cuvée Centenaire », qui sera renouvelée à chaque millésime exceptionnel.
Les autres parcelles sont situées sur des types de sols presques tous caillouteux, avec des sables ocres, des argiles blanches et grises, des terres rouges et des graviers.
L’encépagement
Sur les 16 hectares qui produisent du vin rouge, 65 % sont plantées en Grenache, 20 % en Mourvèdre, 12 % en Syrah et 3 % avec les autres cépages.
Récolte, vinification et élevage
Les raisins sont vendangés très mûrs au cours du mois de septembre et octobre, ils sont éraflés à 70 %, puis foulés à 50 %. La cuvaison dure de trois à quatre semaines.
Une fois les fermentations alcooliques et malolactiques terminées, le vin est débarrassé de ses grosses lies, puis élevé sur lies fines, la majure partie en cuves émaillées, le reste en fûts de chêne, 1/3 de fûts neufs, 1/3 de fûts d’un vin, 1/3 de fûts de deux vins.
L’élevage dure de seize à vingt mois, puis les différentes cuvées sont assemblées et deux mois plus tard le vin est mis en bouteilles.
On peut commencer à le boire quelques mois après, car l’élevage long lui a apporté de la rondeur, mais on peut aussi le conserver plus de dix ans au cours desquels il évoluera lentement.
La production annuelle en rouge est d’environ 70 000 bouteilles ; la Cuvée Centenaire, lorsqu’elle est embouteillée séparément représente 6000 bouteilles (80% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, 8% Syrah). Red Rhone Blend Read about the different grapes used to produce red and white Rhone wines
On CellarTracker, Red Rhone Blend is the term for a wine consisting of two or more of the traditional 13 Southern Rhone grape varieties. Typically it's the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre or Cinsault grapes, but can also contain the Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan or Vaccarese grapes.
A 'food' wine. Lacking pretension and intended for local consumption with local cuisine. Lacks the 'high' notes on a Bordeaux, more earthy and sharper so often a better partner to meat dishes with a sauce. France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comRhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Rhone Valley The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
### Wine Scholar Guild's Rhône valley vintage charts & ratings ###Southern Rhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Southern Rhone Valley
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation - Read more about Chateauneuf du Pape
Another site on this appellation
Vineyards on weinlagen-info
"As I have written many times in the past, the sweet spot for drinking Châteauneuf du Papes is usually the first 5-6 years after the vintage. Then they seem to go through an adolescent, awkward, and sometimes dormant stage, only to re-emerge around year 10-12, where the majority of wines are often fully mature. The best of them will continue to hold on to life (but rarely improving) beyond 15-20 years. It is only the exceptional Châteauneuf du Papes that will evolve for 20-25+ years, and those are indeed a rarity. However, things may be improving dramatically in terms of the longevity of Châteauneuf du Pape, although Grenache-dominated wines, the vast majority of wines produced in the appellation, are wines that do not have the polyphenol (extract and tannin) content of top Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, or Syrah-based wines. Nevertheless, the younger generation in Châteauneuf du Pape has taken seriously the farming in the vineyards. There are more organic and biodynamically run vineyards here than in any other appellation of France. The yields, which were already low, are even lower today (20-35 hectoliters per hectare), and of course, the proliferation of top luxury and/or old-vine cuvées gives a significant boost to the number of wines that will evolve past 25 or 30 years. The advantage of these wines is their broad window of drinkability." - Robert Parker
Vintage Chart 1978 to Today
|
|
