The vintage

Indeed, all along the year, 2012 did not spare the Vignerons : even the savviest got confused, almost losing their points of references, while dealing with its tricks ! Heterogeneity in the vineyard would bear, right from the start, the mark of damage caused by winter frost. Sadly enough, very old Grenache and Syrah vines did not survive this frost. Loss of a precious heritage, impact on the yields of the upcoming harvest, Vignerons were already under pressure…
Conversely, the months of July and August were extremely hot, speeding up the maturing process, as a first step, but worsening water stress, in a second. Rarest reaction, the Vignerons came to bless the rains that fell beginning of September, as they profitably revived the phenolic ripening of the grapes. In the end, deciding the right moment to pick up grapes caused the serious Vignerons a real headache ! To the extent that the harvesting of the different cépages, in the different parcelles, followed a more than widely unusual order…
And now, for one more uncommon observation : opting for a later harvest was not necessarily the winning choice, in 2012 : the exception that
proves the rule !
Now, at this stage, as the Wines are nearing the end of the fermenting process,
they already impose their real potential : they are very, very, good… Thus, they lead us to admit that, from contrasts, Harmony can arise...

Terroir

Les Bedines, la Crau, les Saintes Vierges.

Ageing

20 months in one vintage barrels - Allier et Tronçais.

Serving

14°C
Decant 2 hours before tasting.

Tasting

A fine and elegant style, with hints of fresh red berries. Fun and immediate, yet serious. Enjoy it over the next 10 years!

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 80 %
Syrah : 20 %

Lovely crushed raspberry and boysenberry fruit glides along, lined with licorice, roasted apple wood and plum sauce notes. The long, fleshy finish has good focus, with a lingering hint of tar. Best from 2016 through 2024.

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 92/100 , 2015-04-30

Vivid ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of candied red berries, incense and smoky minerals, with a floral nuance slowly emerging. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suggestion of candied flowers. Finishes sweet, lively and gently tannic, with very good spicy persistence.

Josh Raynolds
Vinous , 93/100 , 2015-04-01

Rich blackberry and raspberry with toasted oak and spices; smooth and generous with elegance and balance; dense and long. 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah.

Anthony Dias Blue
The Tasting Panel , 91/100 , 2015-03-01

.the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is comprised of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. Fermented with 50% whole-cluster, it offers up complex, nuanced notes of spice, toast, mulled blackberry and raspberry to go with a medium-bodied, elegant and finely textured palate. Showing solid richness and depth, with superb balance...

Robert Parker
Wine Advocate , 90-92/100 , 2013-10-01

This is a huge Châteauneuf, flashy and modern, the sweet, smooth black fruit polished to a high sheen with the coconut richness of oak. It feels balanced in the style, with a dark meatiness that underlines the wine and tempers the strength of the tannins. Pair it with a seared rib eye.

Tara Q Thomas
Wine & Spirit , 90/100 , 2016-01-11