Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Chateauneuf Du Pape Croix De Bois 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Another star of the vintage, Chapoutier's 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois features attractive scents of crushed stone, dried herbs, fresh cherries and red raspberries. It's medium to full-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and nicely concentrated fruit. It comes across as elegant and long, not overly extracted or tannic.
Reviewed by: Stuart Pigott
A very structured and concentrated Chateauneuf for the 2021 vintage, with complex red-fruit aromas and a leafy freshness. In fact, it is almost minty. The fine tannins are quite serious, but the wine moves rather light-footedly over the palate in spite of this. Very long, deep finish that tends in a fascinatingly dark direction. From a slope at the extreme east of Chateauneuf with a very water-retentive soil that makes dry farming no problem. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
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.
