2019 Chateau de Vaudieu 'L'Avenue' Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Located about a five-minute drive outside the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape along the road that leads to Courthezon, you will find Château de Vaudieu. It is one of three 18th-century Chateaux located in the appellation, tucked into a small valley surrounded by hills and plateau. It is at the intersection of several major terroirs: sandy soils to the north, pale limestone and clays centered around a forested hillock, and two large plateaux of somewhat overexposed galets. The estate had a great reputation during the 19th century from exporting wines all over Europe. In 1955, Gabriel Meffre purchased this once historic estate. At the time, there were only 25 hectares of vines, and under his leadership, the estate reached 70 hectares – something very rare in the appellation.

Today Gabriel Meffre's grandchildren, Laurent Brechet, and his brother, Julien, run this ascending Domaine. Through their mother, Sylvette, they inherited several properties when Gabriel died in 1987, including Château de la Coulerette in Provence. Since taking over the property, Laurent has continued to expand plantings, especially on the underutilized limestone terroir. He has enlisted the assistance of Philippe Cambie (2010 oenologist of the year, Robert Parker) in the winemaking, and while the wines are modern in style, they showcase their terroirs beautifully. 

Chateau de Vaudieu is 550m south from the historic and formidable Chateau Rayas.

Aging: 18 months in demi-muids

100% Grenache. This cuvée comes from a plot of old Grenache on sandstone at the top of one of the hills of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The nose reveals notes of raspberry coulis and black tea, the mouth is on the freshness and the characteristic finesse of old Grenaches on sandy-textured soil.

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape L'Avenue is also an incredible wine that I wish every reader could taste. More white flowers, chalky minerality, camphor, and leather notes emerge on the nose, and it’s more focused and chiseled compared to the broader, sexier Amiral G., yet its purity of fruit is incredible, it’s flawlessly balanced, and it too will have two decades of prime drinking. This cuvée is 100% Grenache from vines near the estate and more red clay soils. It was destemmed and brought up all in demi-muids. ~98 Jeb Dunnuck

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