There’s no better match for wintery weather than Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The best Châteauneufs all contain a splash of southern sunlight, combining the region’s rugged, sunbaked earthiness with rich, mouthfilling fruit.
On the 2016 vintage, Josh Raynolds of Vinous wrote recently: “If exuberant ripe fruit, harmonious tannins and an overall impression of generosity and lushness are what you’re after … then 2016 has plenty to offer. But the best wines also display real energy, making this a standout vintage.”
Today’s 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from one of the appellation’s foremost producers. Jacqueline André tends her ancient 140-year-old vines with the care and attentiveness of a loving parent. The original organic and biodynamic domaine in Châteauneuf, André’s wines are a standard for elegance and clarity.
Even from a warm vintage with perfectly ripe fruit and rich deep material, Jacqueline André’s wines retain vibrancy and life. She’s a master of balance, a consistent quality in her wines she attributes to biodynamic viticulture, and careful choice of harvest dates.
André’s 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a masterpiece. Though it’s lush, intense, and enormous, it achieves it all without becoming flat or dry. Look for notes of plum, licorice, raspberry jam, and tapenade in the nose — the mouth is dense and extremely long, with bold flavors of cherry jam and wood bolstered by rich, voluptuous tannins.
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André Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016
bottle price: $58
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES