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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 39 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by denniswdern@gmail.com on 1/26/2024 & rated 87 points: Medium ruby color, with some fading around the edges. Dark cherry and smoke aromas. Medium alcohol, body, tannins and acidity. Flavors of dark cherry, charred wood and, again, that smokiness. A bit harsh on the finish (James Molesworth described it as briary, which is a good descriptor). (209 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 1/29/2022 & rated 91 points: Similar to the bottle I had a few weeks ago. I actually opened it on Friday and decided after taking small glass not to drink it.. The nose is red fruit with a hint of smoke. The palate was dark cherry, raspberry, current and a little smoke leading to a smooth finish of moderate length. (1583 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 1/9/2022 & rated 91 points: Opened and slow ox'd for two hours. The nose is red fruit with a hint of smoke. The palate was dark cherry, raspberry, current and a little smoke leading to a smooth finish of moderate length. (1563 views) | | | Tasted by Radboy on 4/9/2021 & rated 92 points: In a sweet spot. (1884 views) | | | Tasted by lachord on 4/14/2020 & rated 90 points: Still plenty of fruit, but more subtle. Dark red color with hints of raspberry, cherry with nice oak notes. (2201 views) | | | Tasted by Radboy on 1/17/2020 & rated 92 points: This is terrific. (2171 views) | | | Tasted by papabluez on 12/13/2019: unfortunately the alcohol is the most prominent aspect of this wine right now. It really turned off our regular tasting group last evening. Some fruit and spice there, but hard to appreciate through the heat. (1415 views) | | | Tasted by vinum bonum on 8/29/2018: Rarement bu un vin qui change aussi radicalement entre l'ouverture et deux heures de carafe. Tendu, dur, et marqué par l'alcool dans sa phase nitiale, il se modifie entièrement ensuite et propose une matière sphérique, une texture soyeuse, une aromatique de phase secondaire avec encore pas mal de fruit, et surtout, c'est ultra suave, gourmand à souhait : une bombe ! (2163 views) | | | Tasted by lachord on 7/30/2018 & rated 91 points: Dark crimson color, hints of cherry and blackberry. (1806 views) | | | Tasted by thunberg on 12/29/2017 & rated 90 points: In an excellent condition right now! (2211 views) | | | Tasted by OWC on 9/30/2017 & rated 93 points: Singing right now. Pure beam of fruit with soft edges but impressive structure. A delight with roast chicken. (2375 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 8/29/2017: Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Alpharetta, GA): Darker crimson, some clarity; unmistakable seaweed nori along with sweet cherry raspberry screamed CdP, cranberry, wild strawberry, great fruit, elegant, a bitter Grenache note in the back, baby Aspirin, old-school, younger; was on St. Theodoric but happy to see one of my favorites on reveal, still young, should age gracefully as this seems to have found the zone. (2795 views) | | | Tasted by Frede84 on 3/15/2016 & rated 86 points: No lengh at all. To young maybe. (3957 views) | | | Tasted by Motz on 3/12/2016 & rated 95 points: Drank over three days. Loud whispers suggest that higher quality fruit may have been declassified and blended into this wine (Cuvée Centenaire was not made this vintage). Whatever the case, this wine offers the prettiest and most appealing Les Cailloux bouquet I recall, with fresh, preserved, candied, liqueur, and perfumed essences of raspberry, lingonberry, pomegranate, and pie cherry interlaced in silky, racy harmony. Quite simply gorgeous! Behind all the red berry sexy lingers a veritable wall of lavender, sage, white pepper, garrigue, pipe tobacco, fig paste, charcuterie, graphite, coal, crushed stones, and volcanic dust. The attack through the finish deliver the ethereal red berry elixir and the earthy, rocky, mineral substance makes its presence felt most delightfully at the middle and through the finish. Wafting notes of sweet coco powder, dark ganache, boysenberry, blackberry, and assorted cracked peppercorns enhance the experience. Exceptional weight, texture, and balance. The wine was open from the outset and it should hold through 2022-2025 but why wait!? 94-95! (3978 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 10/17/2015 & rated 91 points: Tasting blind this really showed a lot of sweetness initially, almost modern and oaky Italian this came to resemble a CdP with a fig paste and marzipan top note on top of hard raspberry and cherry liqueur, and some dried red fruit; the palate showed ripe red fruit, slightly medicinal, and some heat on the finish, more air (or more glasses) made the heat subside and the balance and brilliance of the Brunels give this wine great balance and nice richness for the moderately difficult vintage; well done; give this a couple years, more if you want the real brilliance of Les Cailloux. (4073 views) | | | Tasted by Chasse_spleen on 10/11/2015 & rated 90 points: Vibrant and spicy nose. Garrigue and black currant. Structured and long taste, slightly low on fruit although all other components are in place. Drinking well now. (3428 views) | | | Tasted by bajayngo on 10/6/2015: Very traditional cdp notes of fig cake, melted licorice, sage brush, worchestshire, plums and prunes. The alc is a little spikey but not completely out of balance. Was showing it's best after a good 2-3hr decant. (3359 views) | | | Tasted by bajayngo on 4/11/2015: Similar to previous bottle. Straight forward cdp, melted raspberry fruit, herbs de provance, anise, fig cake and hot stones. (2581 views) | | | Tasted by bajayngo on 12/25/2014: Straight forward and traditional cdp. Kirsch, melted licorice, sage brush, hot stones, herbs de provence. Still a little hot on the finish and was better when 1st popped than after decanted so a little backwards. (2896 views) | | | Tasted by thunberg on 10/21/2014 & rated 90 points: @Lucien et André Brunel tasting, Stockholm
Good nose, turns caramel after some time in the air, very nice. A little weak in flavor. Over all well balanced and a nice long finish. (2706 views) | | | Tasted by Livermore on 7/26/2014 & rated 87 points: Spicy with strong tannins. good concentration but a little unbalanced. Perhaps it becomes better with some more age. (2121 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 6/25/2014: See through dull ruby garnet; cherry, lighter raspberry, some sweet fruit and sour pit, hot stone, cranberry, some red floral notes as well; intense on the palate, spicy finish, medium body, not too bitter for the Grenache, some heat is the only negative; good but this wine tends to reward some good cellaring. (3132 views) | | | Tasted by Brett and Megan on 4/26/2014 & rated 95 points: aroma- mild cherry candies, little wood; taste - very smooth, little berry, but mostly robust red fruit and mild earthy tannins; could drink alone or with food (2967 views) | | | Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 3/9/2014 & rated 89 points: Robert Kacher Selections (Washington, DC): Smells ripe, red and floral, some smoke and leather as well. Medium tannins, juicy acid, with ripe cherries. Notes of leather and lavender add something to ponder. Drinking well right now. (3442 views) | | | Tasted by Christoffer78 on 11/20/2013 & rated 90 points: A bit "sweetish" at first sniff but of course displaying lovely mature Grenache perfume combined with clean rich morellos. The palate reveals no tannins and is acceptably integrated. A very nice effort from star producer L&A Brunel. This wine drinks very well at present but will continue to develop for another couple of years. (score is 90+) (3365 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| 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
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