2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Vieilles Vignes, Domaine le Prieure des Papes, Rhone

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.