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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2019, Structure, colour, healthy grapes : A superb vintage

2019 witnessed a normal rainy spring, after an exceptionally rainy spring in 2018.

The autumn and winter rainfalls (460 mm) launched the vegetative period and provided the soils with good water reserves. April and May were moderately cold, marked by fast -and then suddenly slow- growing periods. This phenomenon can trigger coulure (= failure of the fruit to set. The growing season was very with only 158 mm total rainfall (against 530 mm in 2018 and 185 mm in 2017). It was also very hot, with 7 every 10 days exceeding 30°C (86°F) between 1st June and 15th September. At the end of June, a heat wave hit the region, peaking at 44.3°C (111.2°F) on 28th June.

In the face of these extreme weather conditions, the foliage did rather well. The water shortage however impacted the size of the berries that remained comparatively small. By harvest time, the grapes were showing a beautiful sanitary state albeit a low yield in juice. The 15 mm rainfall on 18 September was rather welcome and allowed the grenache grapes to reach phenolic maturity. The yield is slightly up from average, compared to the last few years.

        Tradition

        Chaupin

        Vieilles vignes

2018, Ripeness and balance

One must go back several decades to find such a rainy spring. Fortunately, we were spared the traditional September equinox rain , thus allowing the wine growers to harvest in total peace of mind until late autumn. The 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds and whites have been produced from grapes that presented excellent sanitary conditions, they are characterised by optimal ripeness and a nice length on the palate.

With a total rainfall of 520 mm during the growing season and the sum of temperatures -base 10°C -reaching 2252 over the period from 1st March to 30th September, this year witnessed outbreaks of mildew, among the most important in the last few years. Fortunately, the high summer temperatures and the mild September nights contributed to excellent quality grapes. Early maturation and thick skins characterized the red varietals, and particularly grenache; these were vinified in a continued effort to respect aromatic potentials during extraction.

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        Tradition

        Prestige

Archives / Millesimes

2010

2010, QUANTITATIVELY LOW BUT QUALITATIVELY HIGH

With an average yield of 27 hl/ha (for 35 hl/ha authorised in the appellation’s specifications), the 2010 vintage will be remembered as one of the lowest in terms of volumes produced, and one of the highest in terms of the quality of the grapes harvested and the wines made from them.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2010_an

2011

2011, EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE HARVEST

With a normal yield estimated at 33hl/ha, the 2011 harvest in Châteauneuf-du-Pape returns to its quantity standards, leaving behind the last few years of low volume crops. Even if the wines are not finished yet, we already have a good idea of the quality of 2011. The weather conditions during the harvest helped immensely, allowing the grapes to be picked at optimal maturity.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2011_an

2012

2010, 2012, A BALANCED VINTAGE

All Saints’ Day and its first winter cold marked the end of the devatting of a vintage that benefited from optimal climatic conditions for the production of great wines.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2012_an

2013

 2013, IS AN EIGHTIES’ VINTAGE

The vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape gave birth to a 2013 vintage marked by late maturities, and very similar to the ones of the 80’s in many respects. Though safe from the worst effects of the weather conditions that affected many regions -notably hail- it is characterized by low yields and an atypical balance in which fruit prevails over strength.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2013_an

2014

2014, A VINTNER’S VINTAGE

The 2014 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is what is commonly called a “vintner’s vintage”, in the sense that the work done in the vines all along the seasons was a key factor to achieve a great result. The working year – which started early in the spring and finished late in the autumn – was an exhausting year, where experience and anticipation proved to be precious allies to produce beautiful grapes.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2014_an

2015

2015, A GENEROUS VINTAGE

Marked by several periods of strong heat and a few timely thundery storms, the 2015 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape may already and in all aspects be qualified as generous. Generous in colour, generous in structure, in ripeness. Generous also in quantity, a rare occurrence for an appellation known for its low yields.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2015_an

2016

2016, A FABULOUS VINTAGE

As autumn is drawing to a close and the wine presses have been washed and put away, the first wines tasted before being blended confirm what had been sensed: 2016 is going to be a fabulous vintage! And if some compare it to the magnificent 2010, some others do not hesitate to go as far as the famous star-vintage 1990… Either way, the evidence that we are witnessing the making of a great vintage is clear.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2016_an

2017

2017, A RARE AND EXCELLENT VINTAGE

Exceptional in many respects, the year 2017 has generated climatic records that have resulted in an early harvest and low quantity. Marking in more than one way, we will especially remember this vintage for the excellent quality of the wines produced. Balanced, rich wines with nice velvety tannins for the reds, lively and fruity for the whites.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2017_an

2018

2018, BEAUTIFUL MATURITY AND BALANCE

In the memory of winegrowers, we have to go back several decades to find such a rainy beginning of the year. Fortunately, September was spared by the equinox rains (limited to 5 mm), which allowed the winegrowers to harvest in complete serenity, until late in the season. Produced from grapes in excellent sanitary condition, the red and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape of the 2018 vintage are characterized by optimal ripeness and very good length in the mouth.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2018_an

2019

2019, A SUPERB VINTAGE, HIGH IN COLOR AND OF BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP

The harvest started early in the season and took place in the greatest serenity. The rains of September 18 led to an increase in juice yields and a rebalancing of the musts. The perfect sanitary state of the grapes allowed us to produce very colorful, unctuous and generous red Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2019. The whites are fat, full-bodied and have good length in the mouth.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2019_an

2020

2020, A MILLESIME ALL ROUND AND BALANCED

The 2020 vintage is the fruit of a serene vegetative year and a harmonious development of the grapes. It is therefore appeased that the winemakers were able to harvest and vinify Châteauneuf-du-Pape that are already proving to be brilliant at tasting. The 2020 vintage is characterized by good acidity and elegance for the white wines. The reds have less intense colors than in 2019, but also less alcohol, more freshness, purity of fruit and tannic finesse.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2020_an

2021

2021, AN OLD-TIME MILLESIME WITH BEAUTIFUL POTENTIAL

In the memory of winegrowers never has the spring frost arrived so close to the heart of the appellation, causing fears of a lot of damage to the earliest grape varieties. Fortunately this was not the case. The 2021 vintage is no less atypical and takes us back fifteen years in terms of climatic conditions and the profile of the wines produced. The first wines show lower average degrees than in previous years and the beautiful acidity of the vintage suggests a good potential for ageing for wines that can be appreciated in their early youth.

Download the vintage sheet:
FederationProducteursChateauneufDuPape_FM_2021_an