The Pope’s Secret
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Wine Style: Côtes du Rhône
Average Price: €
Overall Rating: 91Points
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
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The Côtes du Rhône AOC
Château Mont-Redon is one of 320 producers of wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, located in the Southern end of the Côtes du Rhône AOC which has over 1000 wine producers total. The Rhône Valley is the second largest French AOC wine region by area and production, next to Languedoc-Roussillon. It is composed of 181,500 square acres and has over 6,000 estates within its boundaries.
The Rhône Valley has always been the ideal route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through northern Europe. Records indicate that Greeks were moving wine around the region as early as 600 BC. Around 125 AD the Romans moved into the Rhône Valley and carried on the production where the Greeks left off. When Pope John XXII took over the papacy in the 1300s, he built a new castle in the region, called “Châteauneuf-du-Pape,” French for “The New Castle Of The Pope,” or the Palais des Papes. From there, a local village took the name, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape was born.
Later Clement VI, who was Pope from 1342 to his death in 1352 expanded the wine growing area and destroyed the bridge going across the river to stop the Cardinals from visiting the Nuns at night on the other side as the story goes. He was the fourth Avignon pope and reigned during the first outbreak of the Black Death in Europe (1348–1350). Besides the wonderful weather and countryside, the nobility flocked here to escape the Black Death.
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| The destroyed bridge |
The first vines found at Mont-Redon date back to the Roman times as mentioned earlier. They were planted at the bottom of the hill, sheltered from the Mistral wind, that gave its name to the Mont-Redon property. In the middle of the 18th Century, the nobleman Joseph Ignace d’Astier, a lawyer from Avignon, acquired Mont-Redon. The Mathieu family, descendants of the Astiers, then took ownership.
Today they Produce wines from three appellations in the Southern Rhône Valley: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, and Côtes du Rhône. There are a total of thirteen different grape varieties (white and red) that can be used to make a Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine. Château Mont-Redon uses all thirteen when producing their wines, while the Lirac and Côtes du Rhône are made with two, three or four varieties only. Grenache (red or white) is the predominant grape in all the blends. Match this with their sustainable farming practices, and you have a wonderful tasting wine.
About the Grapes:
Grenache:
The king of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the king of all southern Rhône grapes, Grenache has incredible aromatic potential. Producing a velvety sensation when tasting and giving a wine a powerful background structure.
The other 12 Châteauneuf-du-Pape grapes:
Syrah, Mourvedre, Bourboulenc, Cinsaut, Clairette blanche, Clairette rose, Counoise, Grenache blanc, Grenache gris, Muscardin, Picardan, Piquepoul blanc, Piquepoul gris, Piquepoul noir, Roussanne, Terret noir, and Vaccarèse.
When visiting France in 2010 I drove from one French AOC to another, starting with the Loire, then Bordeaux, followed by the Rhône and the “Castle of the Pope” tour in Avignon, to be concluded with the Burgundy and Chablis AOC’s before finishing back where I started in Paris. I would love to spend much more time in this all the French AOC regions, but especially the Rhône, as I enjoyed the flavors produced, and new the name Château Mont-Redon from working in restaurants in the United States. The one day in Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape was a wonderful experience and I look forward to my return.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palette Experience:
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Red 2008
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Winemaker Notes:
Bright garnet hue. The nose displays a ripe sherry character combined to some discrete smoky and wet wood notes.
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Winemaker Notes:
A delicate mouthfeel with a balanced mid-palate displaying a spicy/leathery profile with coffee notes. A perfectly well-drinking wine now or within 2-3 years to benefit from its great harmony.
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Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman - which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert.
Overall Star Rating:
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91 points
4 of 5 Stars:
An Outstanding Tasting Experience
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88 to 93 point spread
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91 points
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92 points
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Wines Produced
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Red: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Côtes du Rhône,
White:
Lirac, Rosé, white blend
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Grape Blends
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Red:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Mourvèdre, Syrah,
Cinsault -Counoise- Muscardin- Vaccarèse
White:
Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Picpoul
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Regulatory
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Other French wines or Château’s on Wine Dine and Play:
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Lanessan’s Baby Brother with a castle
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Wine tours and restaurants
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A Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
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A Few New World Favorites:
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Award-winning ice wines
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Passion, science, & innovation
Newburg, Willamette
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Château Mont-Redon:
Boîte postale 10
84231 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cedex 1
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+33 4 90 83 72 75
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Tasting Room hours:
France Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - BST Offset + 1:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
8:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Social Media:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
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“I like cooking with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.”
TTFN
