Not produced in 2013, this Cuvée is proudly back, the Grenache being more generous - in every sense of the term - than last year. It is not before two to three years that one will begin to take the full measure of this Wine !
The vintage

Understanding and succeeding this vintage required, indeed, presence in the Vineyard, careful work, experience, and even, clearly, a genuine expertise...
Winter temperatures amongst the mildest in the decade, rainfall amounts amongst the highest ever in winter, among the lowest ever in spring, and a nice output of grapes throughout the Rhone cépages : everything would raise hope of an early vintage, the ever expected Vintage, satisfactory both in terms of quantity and of quality ! But it was not counting on an unusually cool and rainy summer... Vignerons are soon confronted with quite a few difficulties, the trickiest one being the management of diseases…
The first three weeks of September revive the vintage... September, the month of wine !
2014 demanded, especially during the final weeks, hard, incessant work. The vines were in demand. It was crucial to understand, to be able to anticipate...This required a bit of wisdom, reason, intuition...
A vintage for Vignerons, indeed. And the best ones did perform with talent. They are now rewarded. As for the others, alas... There, is the whole difference

Terroir

Bas de la Crau.

Type of soil

Sand.

Ageing

12 months in one and two vintage barrels - Allier et Tronçais. Then 12 months in foudre.

Serving

14°C
Decant 2 hours before tasting.

Tasting

The fruitiness is fiery, on the basis of tannins which remain a trifle austere at the present time.

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 100 %

The only special cuvée made (there’s no Vieilles Vignes), the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Spéciale is a brilliant looking barrel sample that comes all from the sandy parts of the La Crau lieu-­dit. Possessing noticeably more depth and richness than the classic cuvée, it has medium to full-­bodied weight, ripe tannin and classic notes of black raspberry, fruitcake, pepper and incense. It too will drink nicely on release but evolve gracefully for 10-­12 years.

Jeb Dennuck
Wine Advocate , 92/100 , 2015-10-01

Mid crimson with a pale rim. Much more gaminess, even slight jamminess, on the nose than in the other offerings from this producer from the southern Rhône. Easy white pepperiness (even though there is no Syrah in the blend!). Yes, it’s more interesting than the other 2014s from this region and producer but I couldn’t recommend that you pay this sort of money for it. A bit of strawberry jam on the beginning and a bit of heat on the end. Not enough to lace it all together.

Jancis Robinson , 16+/20 , 2015-10-30

Entre élégance naturelle, finesse de grain et parfaite lecture de leurs appellations respectives, les vins présentés confortent notre idée selon laquelle il s'écrit ici un hommage aux grands vins du Rhône.

Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2017 , 17,5/20 , 2016-09-01

Il possède le raffinement des meilleurs terroirs, tant dans les parfums que dans la qualité de la texture. Un vin gracieux au magnifique toucher de bouche et au fruit éblouissant de pureté.

Guide RVF 2017 , 18/20 , 2016-09-01