2020 Chateau de Vaudieu 'Val de Dieu' 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 for 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 of the historic and formidable Chateau Rayas. Grenache represents more than 80% of the domain, with old vines of 40 to 70 years old. The reds are made with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grenache from the plot called Val de Dieu is the oldest of the Domain.

Aging: 18 months in new oak half-muids of 600l

60% Syrah, 32% Grenache, and 8%Mourvedre. The wine is a dark purple color, and the nose is complex with some flavor of cherries and also smoked notes of cacao and cedar. The powerful mouth is balanced between roundness and liveliness. To drink within 20 years or more in big glasses preferably.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Val De Dieu checks in as a mix of 60% Syrah, 32% Grenache, and 8% Mourvedre that sees a touch of new oak. It's always the most modern styled release from this estate yet still brings fabulous Provençal character, offering lots of blackberry and assorted darker fruits to go with ground pepper, sandalwood, and violets on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a terrific sense of freshness, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and ripe tannins. It's already hard to resist yet should cruise for 15+ years if well stored. ~95 Jeb Dunnuck 

This is layered with raspberry, plum, and black cherry compote notes that stretch out slowly, unfurling to show dark licorice, warmed anise, and singed sandalwood notes buried within the fruit. A nice singed wood smoke accent curls around the dense finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. ~94 Wine Spectator

With a final blend tweaked a bit from what was presented last year, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Val de Dieu showed better from the bottle than it had prior. Delicate raspberry and cherry fruit is accented by hints of Earl Grey tea and floral notes. It's medium to full-bodied, showing an attractive tension on the palate, with silky tannins accentuated by crisp acids and a long, lingering finish. ~94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

At a blind tasting you could easily mistake this for a Crozes-Hermitage due to the bright blue fruit aromas and the straight self-confidently dry tannins. Nice length and harmony at the finish. A cuvee of 60% syrah, 32% grenache and 8% mourvedre. Drink or hold. ~91 James Suckling

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