Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes AOC 2020

Wine description for Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes AOC 2020 by Marcoux

Colour & appearance

Deep garnet red with violet reflections – dense, profound and almost opaque in the glass.

Nose

Profound and concentrated: sweet berries, figs and dates, followed by chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, cocoa and a hint of sweet mocha. An aromatic profile you could easily lose yourself in.

Palate

Tremendous density and concentration, underpinned by fine minerality and a structure capable of ageing for decades. Despite its 16 per cent alcohol, the wine never feels heavy – power and elegance are in perfect balance. Still rather closed at present; a carafe will help, but patience will reward even more.

Finish

Long, warm and spicy, with lingering fruit and a mineral drive that lends tension to its generous body.

Terroir & origin

The Armenier family cultivates 13 plots across the appellation: the famous galets roulés over clay-rich, moisture-retentive subsoils, alongside red sandstone, colluvial sediments and Cretaceous limestone soils. Domaine de Marcoux has been farmed biodynamically since 1990 – one of the first estates in the region to do so – and is now run by Sophie Armenier and her son Vincent Estevenin. The vines for the Vieilles Vignes have been documented since 1900: pre-phylloxera Grenache vines, now over 120 years old.

Grape variety & vinification

Grenache Noir dominates, complemented by small amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, which varies from plot to plot, then triple-sorted, destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts. Maturation lasts 18 months in historic concrete tanks, supplemented by foudres and older 350-litre casks.

Food recommendations

A wine for richly flavoured cuisine: pan-fried duck liver with lingonberries, hare à la Rouennaise with Brussels sprouts and celeriac purée, or – bold yet rewarding – Fourme d’Ambert tartlet with blackcurrant and dark chocolate.

Special notes

At this stage, be sure to decant and serve slightly chilled in large glasses. Those who grant it a few years in the cellar will be rewarded with one of the great, long-lived wines of the southern Rhône – the structure of this vintage is built to last for decades.