2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Vieilles Vignes, Domaine le Prieure des Papes, Rhone
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone Valley, France
Deep garnet in the glass, this old-vine Châteauneuf radiates warmth, power and poise. The nose is rich and evocative with ripe black cherry, plum and fig mingling with garrigue herbs, liquorice and a touch of peppery spice. On the palate, it’s broad and velvety, the fruit dense yet lifted, framed by fine tannins and a savoury, mineral edge. There’s balance beneath the richness, a calm strength that speaks of old vines and sun-drenched stones. The finish is long, warming, and quietly majestic.
For when: the table’s loud, the meal’s slow, and the wine does the talking.
Pairs with: roast lamb, game stew, or aged Comté.
If this wine were a voice, it’d be deep, smooth, and impossible to ignore.
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes crafts wines from some of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s oldest parcels, rooted in a patchwork of galets roulés, sand and clay-limestone soils that define the appellation’s magic. The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is sourced from vines averaging over 60 years of age, primarily Grenache, with a touch of Syrah and Mourvèdre adding spice and depth. Hand-harvested and traditionally vinified, the wine is aged in large foudres to preserve fruit purity and terroir expression. The 2020 vintage shows Châteauneuf at its most harmonious: generous, layered, and beautifully composed.
Whats in the bottle
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Notable Awards
93points, James Suckling
"A firm, structured and driven red with aromas of dark berries, bark, cured meat and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. In control with a rather intense core of berries and spices mixing nicely. Lively and focused with a long finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Try after 2026."