Château de Vaudieu - Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe Val de Dieu 2017

Druvor

66% Grenache & 34% Syrah 

Tasting note

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Val De Dieu is always the most modern style wine in the lineup and in 2017 is a blend of 66% Grenache and 34% Syrah that had the Grenache brought up in demi-muids and the Syrah in new barrels. Deep, saturated purple-colored, with notes crème de cassis, ground pepper, bouquet garni, and crushed flowers, it's medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with subtle background oak and a great, great finish. It's another brilliant example of this cuvée that will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 15 years or more.

The team at Château du Vaudieu, led by Laurent Bréchet as well as consultant Philippe Cambie, is firing on all cylinders and continues to produce a bevy of truly world class wines in every vintage. The estate is located not far from Rayas and the wines are rich and powerful, yet never show any signs of rusticity or coarseness. These are elegant, seamless, singular wines. Looking at the two vintages reviewed here, the 2017s showed brilliant with most rating at the upper end of their barrel reviews, which is always a good sign. These are incredibly Provençal, sexy, balanced wines that make the most of the vintage. All the 2018 reds were tasted out of barrel and shows beautifully, with the ripe yet pure style of the vintage. These will certainly be approachable in their youth, yet I suspect also age gracefully given their inherent balance. While 2018 was a difficult year for the whites, you wouldn’t know it by tasting at this estate and along with Saint Prefert and Beaucastel, I think Château De Vaudieu are fashioning some of the greatest whites of the region.

Jeb Dunnuck