A profound, beautifully refined Châteauneuf-du-Pape combining the generosity of the Southern Rhône with remarkable freshness, finesse and longevity.
The 2023 Clos des Papes Rouge is intensely aromatic and layered, offering black cherry, plum and cassis alongside blood orange, dried flowers, Provençal herbs, liquorice and exotic spice.
Powerful without feeling heavy, this is a remarkably complete Châteauneuf-du-Pape, distinguished by silky tannins, tremendous purity and an exceptionally long, mineral finish.
Region: Southern Rhône Valley, France
Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Vintage: 2023
Producer: Clos des Papes – Paul-Vincent Avril
Principal Grapes: Grenache, Mourvèdre & Syrah, complemented by traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties
Alcohol: Approximately 15.5% ABV
Aging: Large old oak foudres
Style: Full-Bodied Dry Red Wine
Clos des Papes takes a traditional approach to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing a single principal red cuvée rather than separating its finest parcels into special bottlings.
Fruit from the estate's different vineyards and grape varieties is brought together to create a complete expression of the appellation.
Nose:
Deep and captivating, with black cherry, cassis, ripe plum and dark berries layered with blood orange, violet and dried flowers. With air, more savory notes of licorice, garrigue, pepper and exotic spice begin to emerge.
Palate:
Rich and concentrated yet remarkably graceful. Ripe black and red fruits form the core of the wine, complemented by spice, dried herbs and subtle earthy complexity.
Despite its considerable intensity, the palate remains fresh and beautifully composed.
Structure:
Full-bodied with impressive concentration, vibrant acidity and exceptionally fine tannins. It has considerable power, but delivers it with remarkable elegance and control.
Finish:
Exceptionally long and precise, with dark fruit, licorice, spice and mineral notes gradually giving way to a distinctive saline freshness.
Clos des Papes is one of the historic benchmark estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, today led by Paul-Vincent Avril.
Rather than producing numerous prestige bottlings, the estate concentrates its vineyards into a single principal red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, allowing different soils, exposures and traditional grape varieties to contribute to the final blend.
Grenache provides perfume, warmth, and generous fruit; Mourvèdre contributes structure, darker fruit, and savory complexity; while Syrah and the other traditional varieties add color, spice, and aromatic detail.
Maturation in large old foudres, rather than new oak, keeps the fruit and terroir at the forefront.
The 2023 Clos des Papes is a particularly compelling combination of power, purity and finesse. It possesses the richness expected from Châteauneuf-du-Pape but avoids excessive weight, finishing with impressive freshness and precision.
This is unquestionably a wine for the cellar.
The 2023 vintage produced a concentrated and beautifully structured Clos des Papes.
Dark cherry, cassis and plum dominate the youthful fruit profile, accompanied by floral notes, Mediterranean herbs, licorice and spice.
The most impressive characteristic is its balance. Despite considerable ripeness and concentration, the wine retains freshness and finely polished tannins, giving it a surprisingly graceful character.
It is already expressive, but its structure suggests considerably greater complexity will emerge with bottle age.
2028 – 2050+
The 2023 can certainly be approached earlier for its extraordinary fruit and youthful intensity, but patience will be rewarded.
Over the next decade, expect the primary cherry, cassis, and plum fruit to evolve toward dried cherry, fig, leather, tobacco, black olive, licorice, Provençal herbs, truffle, and exotic spice.
For drinking before 2030, I recommend decanting for approximately 2 hours.
With greater bottle age, you'll need considerably less aeration.
Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
The combination of power, savory complexity and freshness makes Clos des Papes exceptionally versatile with richer dishes.
Excellent with:
Roast Leg of Lamb · Lamb Shoulder · Côte de Boeuf · Beef Tenderloin · Braised Short Rib · Duck · Venison · Wild Boar · Provençal Beef Stew · Porcini Mushrooms · Black Truffle · Aged Comté
Pair with slow-roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic.
The wine's Grenache-driven fruit beautifully complements the sweetness of the lamb, while Mourvèdre's darker, savory character works with the roasted meat and herbs.
For a more luxurious pairing, serve with braised beef short rib and black truffle. The depth of the dish matches the concentration of the wine, while the 2023's freshness prevents the combination from becoming overly rich.
This is also a bottle worth building an evening around: decant it, serve it with a substantial main course, and allow the wine to evolve slowly throughout dinner.
