2016 La Ferme du Mont Vendange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

The fact that Wine Advocate has named La Ferme du Mont as a "Top source for Grenache-driven wines from the Southern Rhône" is a guarantee for the quality of the wine in front of you! This old-vine grenache will have you grinning from cheek to cheek.

2016 La Ferme du Mont Vendange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge is a blend of 80% Old-vines Grenache, the flagship grape of La Ferme du Mont,complemented with 20% Mourvèdre.

La Ferme du Mont is located in Valréas, in the famous Côte d'Azur, one of the most paradisiacal regions in France and probably the entire world. Valréas is known as “L’Enclave des Papes” or, the Enclave of the Popes because Pope John XXII acquired this region for the Avignon papacy in 1317.

The vineyard is composed of more than 120 acres spanning the sub-appellations of Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Châteauneuf and Châteauneuf Vendanges d'Octobre in the Rhône Valley. The vines are old and the Garnacha is the main protagonist.

Stephane Vedeau, founder, owner, and winemaker has managed to position the winery among the most popular in the region. Stephane comes from a family of winemakers and shares with them the same passion for producing high-quality wines. Stephane pays special attention to the vineyard, which he manages in the most natural way, since 2011 they began to cultivate with 100% biodynamic practices, without using pesticides or fertilizers. 

80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. Deep purple-red, elegant aromas of red and black fruits, caramel licorice, and lightly waxed Mediterranean spices. On the palate, the wine is smooth and lively. The 2016 La Ferme du Mont Vendange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge finish shows a nice sweetness always in balance with the freshness. Pair this wine with beef, lamb, and roasted and spiced dishes. 

Stéphane Vedeau's entry-level CdP is the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Vendange. It's about 80% Grenache and boasts classic regional notes of lavender and rosemary layered over strawberry and raspberry fruit. It's full-bodied and supple, yet it remains fresh, buttressed by hints of orange zest on the long, silky finish. Already approachable, it should drink well for a decade or more. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. ~93 Robert Parker

The driven, energetic Stéphane Vedeau is quickly establishing La Ferme du Mont as a top source for Grenache-driven wines from the Southern Rhône. While I had met Vedeau on a few occasions in New York and Montpellier, this was the first time I made it to his winery in Valréas. While he's a believer in long macerations of five to eight weeks, much of that time is at relatively low alcohol levels, as he's a proponent of aqueous extraction to avoid pulling harsh tannins from the seeds. La Ferme du Mont has 35 hectares in production, with vineyards in Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Châteauneuf du Pape, as well as in Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages. Vedeau also owns Clos Bellane, with another 48 hectares, mainly in Valréas. He makes the wines for Domaine Lux Fontis, which has vineyards in Gigondas and Châteauneuf du Pape, yet another iron in the fire. These are exciting wines that showcase the elegance it's possible to achieve through gentle winemaking, even in warm climates. ~93 Wine Advocate

Leading off the 2016s from barrel, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vendange is a ripe, hedonistic barrel sample that's overflowing with fruit and texture. Plums, licorice, violets, and hints of asphalt all emerge from this uber-ripe, full-bodied beauty that doesn’t pull any punches. A blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah, aged mostly in concrete (there’s a small amount in old barrels), it should certainly be an outstanding wine that’s going to shine for 10-15 years. ~91-93 Jeb Dunnuck

Limpid ruby-red. Highly perfumed aromas of cherry, raspberry, and smoky minerals are complemented by a suggestion of ganja. Shows good clarity and lift on the palate, offering ripe red fruit, spice cake, and lavender flavors that become sweeter with air. At once rich and lively, with dusty tannins coming in late and adding grip to a long, floral-accented finish ~ 90-92 Vinous

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