La Chásse du Pape Châteauneuf du Pape - France

Blend of 25 year-old + Syrah vines and around 100 year-old Grenache vines.

Rich, ruby-red colour, with ripe red-fruit (cherry, strawberry, rasberry) notes and spicy, chocolate overtones on the nose.

The palate is round, concentrated and complex with smooth, mature tanins and finishes long and spicy. Open 1 hour before tasting with a «daube à la provençale» or a eggplant lasagna.

The Grenache grapes are sourced from 3 terroirs : in the Southeast sector of the appellation, between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Bédarrides (soils a majority of cobbles = opulence), the East sector, between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Courthézon (soils a majority of safres/sandstone = elegance), and the West sector (soils of limestone fragments and red sandstone = length & rich fruit).

The Syrah grapes are sourced on soils of safres/sandstone, large cobbles and red clay (=concentration and intensity), at the Southeast, Northeast and Western sectors of the appellation.

Destemming depending on the parcel. Traditional fermentation in vats (between 21 and 30 days) at controlled temperatures (30°C/86°F max.). Malolactic fermentation in barrel with stirring of the fine lees to concentrate the colour and improve the texture (roundness and silky tannins). 20% of the cuvée is aged in barrels from 12 to 18 months (new, 1 & 2 year barrels).