Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reviews

Friendly and open in feel, offering a burst of cherry and kirsch notes backed by red licorice, floral and garrigue hints. The silky, persistent finish has a nice mineral hint too. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2027. 2,700 cases made, 400 cases imported. — JM

Bright and juicy, with cherry paste and raspberry purée notes spilling forth, backed by anise, apple wood and tobacco notes through the rich finish. Approachable, but no rush at all. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2030. 2,700 cases made, 200 cases imported. — JM

Reassuringly back up to par, Louis Bernard's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape offers hints of anise and cherry on the nose. A full-bodied blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, it's creamy and lush on the palate, easing into notes of mocha and black tea on the finish.

Moving to the 2015s mostly tasted from bottle, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Louis Bernard is another well made, enjoyable effort. blackberries, peppery herbs, hints of charcuterie and spice give way to a medium to full-bodied, plump, delicious red to drink over the coming 3-5 years. The blend is 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, brought up all in concrete tanks.

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a surprisingly modern bouquet, yet backs it up with fruit. Blueberries, passion fruits, garrigue, and mint all emerge from this ripe, plum, incredibly sexy 2016 that has tons of texture and richness, while never going over the top. The blend is 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre that was all destemmed and brought up all in concrete tank. 

As demand for Châteauneuf-du-Pape has crept up over the years, so has the price of this bottling. It’s still a reasonable value in a silky, full-bodied wine to drink in its youth. A hint of parsley-like green accents gently warmed raspberry compote, all framed by vanilla and mocha. — J.C. 

Year's Best Rhone
This strikes an appealing balance between red raspberry flavors and barnyard scents, the earthy notes wrapping into the fruit to create a densely textured wine. It's firm and slightly herbal, a pleasingly rustic Châteauneuf.