Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Chateauneuf Du Pape Croix De Bois 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Bright ruby. Powerful aromas of raspberry liqueur, cherry pie, incense and succulent flowers, along with a smoky mineral element that builds in the glass. Vibrant red and dark berry liqueur and candied licorice flavors stain the palate and display superb clarity and spicy lift. Silky tannins frame the wine’s sweet fruit on an impressively long, precise finish that leaves candied lavender and cherry notes behind.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Hints of leather and earth give depth and layered complexity to the raspberries found on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois. It's full-bodied and supple, creamed with fruit and ripe tannins and comes to a long, intense finish that's marked by hints of orange zest and brined black olives.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
All Grenache, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois comes from the Bédarrides (eastern) portion of the appellation, grown on clay soils with an overlay of galets roulés. While the nose and attack deliver open, voluminous notes of ripe cherries and raspberries, the wine seems to tighten on the full-bodied midpalate, building in structure and salinity while adding taut flavors of cranberries and orange zest framed by silky tannins. There's a lively tension in this wine, which should give it more than a decade of longevity.
About the Producer
Founded in 1808, M. Chapoutier owns 175 hectares of vines in five appellations in the Rhone Valley and is now run by the energetic and brilliant Michel Chapoutier. Since Michel started running the estate, the quality of the winemaking has improved very quickly and the philosophy of winemaking has changed considerably. Michel Chapoutier's achievements caused an instant sensation in the winemaking world and he completely changed the way Chapoutier wines were made and the winemaking process, eventually making wines to rival those made by Marcel Guigal, one of the best winemakers in the Rhone Valley. The vineyards of Château Sapoutier range from the Rhone Valley to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a number of quality vineyards planted with Syrah, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne and other major grape varieties. The winery is "mono-varietal" (i.e. making wines from a single variety), for example, all Syrah for the Châteauneuf-du-Rotie wines, all Marsanne for the Hermitage whites and all Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are all Grenache. Château Sapoutier has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of its wines, even though each single vineyard produces far more than the 500 cases of fine wine. Since 1989, Château Sapoutier has been using biodynamic farming and winemaking methods with the aim of producing wines that are the purest and closest to the natural terroir. Every decision, every step of the viticultural and winemaking process is designed to add to the terroir, varietal character and vintage identity of the wines. Only wild yeasts are used for fermentation and the wines are made in small oak barrels. The best red and white wines are not clarified or filtered before bottling.
