Wine Advisor
Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf du Pape Les Cailloux Blanc 2023
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A delicious, dense, creamy and aromatic blend of roussanne and grenache blanc. Aromas of baked pears, fresh flowers, anise, vanilla and blanched almonds on the nose. It’s medium-bodied and round with a dense midpalate and a flavorful, precise finish. Drink or hold.
Reviewed by: Nicolas Greinacher
The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Les Cailloux is delicious. It unfolds with verbena tea, honeysuckle, ripe pear and lime flesh aromatics. Kept in check by bright acidity, the elegant 2023 closes with a slice of ripe peach on the long, sapid climax.
About the Producer
One of Châteauneuf’s most revered estates is that of centuries-old André Brunel, who has been in the region since the 18th century and has been making wine for eight generations. Though originally named Domaine Les Cailloux by Lucien Brunel in 1954, its current name is after the seventh-generation owner, André Brunel. Under André’s leadership, the estate expanded rapidly, with vines in the Côtes du Rhône AOC as well as Vins de Pays. In 1971, after André took over, he launched Grenache-dominant Cuvée Centennaire, the estate’s top wine, which solidified André Brunel as a major player in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In addition, the family is leading the charge in the region for eco-friendly farming practices, eschewing chemicals at every turn. André’s son, Fabrice, is now at the helm of this pioneering estate, overseeing their three appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and Vaucluse Vins de Pays, which represent three different tiers of wine. Grenache is the star variety in these wines, with a smattering of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault.
