Italiano
Chateauneuf du Pape 2015: a vintage to discover
Although it was a hot and quite dry year, the Chateauneuf-du-Pepe of this vintage are balanced, sunny and have great character. Trying is believing.
The appellation Chateauneuf-du-Pape (3,160 hectares) is the most important one in the southern Rhone Valley and one of the most prestigious in all of France. Created in 1936, this appellation stands out for having 13 recognized varietals (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Picpoul, Terret Noir, Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse and Cinsault together with white varieties like Picardan, Clairette, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc) that for the most part produce red wines with only 5% white.
In recent years, generational turnover has resulted in major changes in the area’s wines with a greater use of, aside from Grenache, Mourvedre over Syrah while in the winery more and more producers are maturing their wine in cement vats, even unfinished ones, as opposed to barrels. There is also greater attention to practicing organic and biodynamic agriculture that now account for almost half of production.
Vintage 2015 red wines are now on the market and are the product of a hot and quite a dry growing season, which is not rare for the area, but the better producers were able to make balanced and sunny wines full of personality.
