If you are a fan of supple-textured, elegant, fresh, sweet, and spicy red berry-filled wines from the Southern Rhone Valley, 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape wines are for you. 2020, the crescendo in a trio of outstanding years in the Chateauneuf appellation provides wines with slightly lower alcohol levels and slightly less concentration than you find in 2019.
You also discover more vivacity in the fruit with a stronger lean to the red berry side of the style range. The wines offer early drinkability, balance, and freshness with gorgeous red berry fruits. After tasting close to 250 wines, I am a huge, unabashed fan of 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape wines! And if you are also a lover of Grenache and Southern Rhone wines, I am positive you will find several wines that deserve a place in your cellar and dinner table.
2020 Chateauneuf is the result of several climatic events which started with a wet winter. With mild temperatures, the water tables remained at a good level. With a warm, sunny, and dry spring, which is about an early budburst, along with fairly even flowering in the middle of May, the vintage was off to a good start with projections of a precocious harvest, which is always a good sign.
The beginning of the summer was dry, with the exception of some, perfectly timed rain in June, which provided moisture to the vines before the warm, dry summer months kicked in. The sunny, dry weather remained constant until the early part of August. Temperatures in the summer were hot, but not excessively hot, along with ample hours of sunshine. The nights offered cooler temperatures, adding the necessary amount of acidity to the vines, and providing freshness to the fruits.
Depending on the terroir, by the middle to the end of August, most vignerons were busy harvesting their white wine grapes. Shortly after that, in early September, pickers were starting to harvest Syrah before moving to pick their Grenache, and Mourvedre, which kicked into high gear by the middle of September. Thanks to a nice, late summer rain, on September 20, which added additional sugar levels, harvesting took place under beautiful, sunny conditions, with occasional light rains, which helped refresh the vines. The growing season was completed by early to mid-October, depending on the vineyard.
In total, we tasted close to 250 wines for this report. With so many great wines, to make this easy to read for you, this report has been divided into 4 separate articles. You can also use the wine tasting note function, or the article search to read about any specific wine you are interested in. The subsequent reports can be read using any of the following links:
2020 Chateaunef Guide Part 2, Wines D-I
2020 Chateaunef Guide Part 3, Wines J-M
2020 Chateaunef Guide Part 4, Wines N-Z
All of the following 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape wines were tasted in Chateauneuf in non-blind conditions in July 2022.
2020 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alchimie – It takes a bit of coaxing to bring out the bouquet garni, thyme, smoke, and black cherry nuances on the nose. Vibrant, fresh, and chewy with an herbal-tinted, core of red berries, pepper, and garrigue, the wine is made using 60% Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah, and various other, assorted grape varieties. Drink from 2023-2033. 92 Pts
2020 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Marceau – Produced from a blend using old vine Mourvedre, and Grenache with other, allowable assorted grape varieties, the wine is rich, meaty, spicy, smoky, and floral on the nose. On the palate, the wine is rich, fleshy, spicy, and beefy with dark, red peppery red berries from start to finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 92 Pts
2020 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Privilege – Smoke, licorice, peppery black cherries, and flower notes on the nose work perfectly with the dark, peppery, ripe, deep, plums, black cherry, chocolate, and olives on the palate. The wine has tension, density, and a strong spicy character giving you lift, length, and energy from start to finish. Produced from a Syrah-dominated blend with Grenache and Mourvedre, this is quite successful for the vintage. Give it a year or two in the cellar before pulling a cork. Drink from 2024-2038. 94 Pts
2020 Aime Arnoux Selection Parcellaire – Light, garrigue-filled, fresh style with soft, elegant textures and a nice sweetness with lift in the kirsch-filled finish. This will be quite nice on release. Drink from 2022-2028. 88 Pts
2020 Albin Jacumin La Begude Des Papes – Garrigue, thyme and kirsch open the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, and fresh with a refreshing kirsch note, in the gentle finish. The wine blends about 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, and 3% Cinsault. Drink from 2022-2031. 90 Pts
2020 Albin Jacumin My Grenache – Roasted black cherries and spice start things off. Medium-bodied, fresh, lighter, elegant-styled, refined wine with a sweet, raspberry, strawberry, and red cherry supple-textured finish. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache, aged in a combination of demi-muids and amphora. Drink from 2022-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Albin Jacumin a Aime – Produced from a blend of all 13 allowable, red varieties, though with a large percentage of Grenache, the wine is light, refined, fresh, and supple, with a lean to its cherry and raspberry character. You can enjoy this easily on release. Drink from 2022-2029. 90 Pts
2020 Andre Mathieu Clos Janette – Dark plums, black cherries, cigar box, and floral aromatics open the wine. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, and silky, with fruit and freshness that linger. The wine is blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was aged in 15% new, French oak barrels for 24 months before bottling. Drink from 2023 – 2034. 93 Pts
2020 Andre Mathieu La Centenaire – Garrigue, forest floor, and earthy notes join the red berries and olives in the nose and palate. The wine is distinctively earthy, with a reductive character so you might want to give it a year or two in the cellar. The wine comes from 100-year-old Grenache, with Mourvedre, Syrah, and other AOC-allowed grape varieties. Drink from 2025-2032. 90 Pts
2020 André Brunel Cuvée Reservée – Medium-bodied, fresh, and forward, the wine is instantly accessible with an open core of sweet, juicy kirsch, spice, and herbs, finishing with elegant tannins and lift. Drink from 2023-2030.. 90 Pts
2020 Baptiste Hillaire La Part des Anges – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, bright, and approachable, the kirsch and strawberry character, with its fruit-forward, the strawberry-oriented finish is ready-to-go. Drink from 2022-2028. 90 Pts
2020 Baron de Montfaucon Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Blending 92% Grenache with 8% Mourvedre produced a fresh, forward, elegant, soft, silky, strawberry and kirsch, early drinking charmer with a touch of cocoa in the endnote. This will be best in its youth. Drink from 2022-2028. 88 Pts
2020 Baron de Montfaucon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Bimard – A cuvee from the estate’s oldest vines shows off its refined, soft, polished, floral, and profile easily on the nose and in the soft, fresh, palate. This can be enjoyed on release. Drink from 2022-2029. 89 Pts
2020 La Barroche Pure – With a strong sensation of roses to start things off, the wine quickly moves to salty kirsch, licorice, and peppery spices on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, fresh, and refined with loads of dark red fruits, herbs, olives, and peppery spices that come on the endnote. This is quite strong for the vintage. The wine, as you probably know by now takes its name from the fact that it’s made from 100% pure, old vine Grenache. Drink from 2023-2036. 96 Pts
2020 Beaucastel – Medium-bodied, fresh, meaty, and spicy with a strong sense of pepper and garrigue, fresh, soft, and vibrant, the wine will drink well fairly early for Beaucastel due to its freshness, balance, and ripe, soft tannins. The wine blends 30% Mourvedre, and 20% Grenache with the remainder of the blend coming from all the other assorted red and white grape varieties. Drink from 2024-2040. 97 Pts
2020 Beaucastel Blanc – Spring flowers, orange peel, yellow citrus, white peach, and spice define the nose. On the palate, the wine is lush, creamy, and also interestingly, loaded with fresh, bright, crisp citrus with a touch of peach in the finish. Drink from 2022 – 2032. 94 Pts
2020 Beaucastel Blanc Cuvee Roussanne Vieilles Vignes – Flowers, crushed rocks, peaches, tangerines, honeysuckle, and spice create the attention-grabbing perfume. It is the concentration that comes from the old vines paired with the creamy acidity and freshness that make this such a unique experience. The palate is oily, fruity, spicy, and vibrant with a lemon, peach and mandarin orange, chalky finish that steals the show. This should age extremely well. Drink from 2026-2039. 96 Pts
2020 Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin – Flowers, wet earth, blue fruit, licorice, and dark red fruits are all over the place on the nose and palate. The wine is intense, powerful, and concentrated, yet light on its feet. There is grace, elegance, and balance, with a chewy, meaty, peppery, chalky edge in the finish that holds your attention for at least 60 seconds. The wine blends 75% Mourvedre and equal amounts of Grenache and Syrah. The blend of the 2020 represents the highest percentage of Mouvedre ever used in Hommage, going all the way back to 1989. Picking on the Mouvedre began October 15, which is also the latest picking date for the Mourvedre. Like all the great vintage of Hommage, this is a wine for patient collectors as you need to give it at least 10 years of aging, and 20 would be even better! Drink from 2030-2060. 99 Pts
2020 Beauchene Grande Réserve – Forward, soft, medium-bodied, dusty, earthy, garrigue and olive-accented red berries are all over the place on the nose and on the soft, fresh, mildly, peppery palate. The wine blends 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022 – 2031 90 Pts
2020 Beauchene Vignobles de la Serriere – Wild strawberries, flowers, and kirsch are expressed on the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh, and supple with an herbal accent to the sweet, earthy, red fruits, this is good to go on release. The wine was made blending 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Black raspberries, flowers, and cherries show up easily on the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and fruity with a silky edge to the fruits in the polished, as well as chewy finish. While dominated by Grenache, the wine includes various percentages of most if not all of the AOC allowable grapes. Drink from 2022 – 2031. 91 Pts
2020 Beaurenard Boisrenard – Smoke, thyme, licorice, peppery spice, and dark cherries permeate the nose. Round in texture with a polished edge to the sweet, black cherries and fennel on the palate, this is going to offer hedonistic pleasure early in life. The wine was made from an old vine Grenache-dominated blend from vines varying in age from 70 to more than 100 years of age along with old vine Mourvedre, Syrah, and all the other allowable grape varieties in the appellation. Drink from 2023-2036. 93 Pts
2020 Benedetti Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Strawberry, raspberry, and floral aromatics come through easily. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, herbaceous, and ready to go. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2022 – 2028. 88 Pts
2020 Benedetti Les Larmes Papales – From mostly, old vine Grenache from vines planted on La Crau, this is one of the more unique wines from Chateauneuf as a portion of their grapes is dried on straw mats. The wine offers dark red fruits, thyme, and cherries on the nose and on the round, polished, sweet, palate. Drink from 2022 – 2033. 91 Pts
2020 Berthet-Capeau Elixir des Papes – Produced from 100% old vine Grenache from clay and limestone soils, the wine is medium-bodied, sweet, refined, and fresh with a garrigue and kirsch core of fruit on the nose and palate. The wine is polished, soft, and forward, making it easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2022-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Berthet-Rayne Cuvee Cadiac – With a strong floral accent, the wine gets better once you find all the herbs, licorice, bay leaf, and spice in the nose. Medium-bodied, lush and fresh, the sweetness in the kirsch stands out in the fruit-packed, creamy, pepper-tinted finish. The wine is produced from a blend a Grenache-dominated blend along with all the other allowable grape varieties from the appellation. Drink from 2023-2035. 93 Pts
2020 Berthet-Rayne Tradition – Garrigue, green olives, flowers, and kirsch hit the nose just right. Elegant, silky, fresh, and sweet, with a core of ripe, cherries and red plums on the backend, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2023-2034. 91 Pts
2020 Berthet-Rayne Vieille en Fut de Chene – Soft, supple, creamy, and polished, the red fruits are sweet, and vibrant, which makes the perfect backdrop for all the green olives, garrigue, and spice that comes next. Drink from 2024 – 2037. 93 Pts
2020 Bosquet des Papes Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes – Ruby in color, the wine is all about its elegant, fresh, refined character. Exchanging purity and silky textures for weight and density, there is vibrancy, lift, and ample sweet, mildly-spiced kirsch and mint leaf on the palate which carries through to the long, graceful finish. The wine was made using mostly old vine Grenache which is more than 80 years of age, along with Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2034. 95 Pts
2020 Bosquet des Papes Les 7 de Pignan – The nose blends roses and cherries. On the palate, the is all about its purity, elegance, freshness, and silky textures. There is an array of ripe, sensuous red fruits on the palate from start to finish here. This is completely effortless to drink. The wine takes its name from the fact that the wine is a selection of 7 different parcels of vines from the Pignan lieu-dit. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache from some of the estate’s oldest vines. Drink from 2022-2035. 96 Pts
2020 Bosquet des Papes Tradition – Flowers and kirsch dominate the perfume. On the palate, the wine is silky and vibrant, fresh and pure with sweetness, and lift to all the clean, red fruits that carries through to the finish. Drink from 2023 – 2033. 92 Pts
2020 Boutiniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Flowers and red fruits form the core of this medium-bodied, soft, polished, accessible, easy-to like a charmer, with a fresh, bouquet garni and mint character that comes in at the end of the finish. This will be a pleasure to taste on release. The wine blends 70% old vine Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault. Drink from 2022-2029. 90 Pts
2020 Cabrieres Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Prestige – Chateau Cabrieres only produced one wine this year, all the grapes normally used for their Cuvees were planted into their tradition and which helps explain why this wine is so good. With an earthy, tobacco leaf, black raspberry, and floral-filled nose, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and polished with a sweetness to the ripe, cherries, and raspberries in the elegant finish. Drink from 2022-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Chante Cigale – Tobacco leaf, garrigue, red fruits, and olives on the nose with a medium-bodied, fresh, soft, sweet and spicy, black raspberry, olive, and herb-filled palate work well here for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2022- 2029. 91 Pts
2020 Chante Cigale Extrait – With a nice depth of color for the vintage, the wine is ripe, spicy, polished, fresh, and polished. There is a sweetness and depth to the dark kirsch on the palate with a touch of pepper in the endnote. This is one of the better wines of the vintage, due to the large portion of Mourvedre in the blend. Give this a year or two in the bottle and it will be even better. Drink from 2023 – 2033. 93 Pts
2020 Chante Cigale Pi – Sweet, fresh, soft, and supple with a silkiness to the red fruits on the palate, the wine is vibrant, medium-bodied, pure, and forward. Produced from 100% old vine Grenache planted in Pignan, this will drink just great on release. Drink from 2022 – 2029. 92 Pts
2020 Chante Cigale Vieilles Vignes – Black raspberries, herbs, and spice create the core of the wine. On the palate, the wine expresses a mineral-driven, salty accent to its red fruits, soft tannins, and elegantly textured, fruit-filled finish with a touch of cocoa-covered green olives on the end note. The wine was made using a blend of 70% old vine Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2033. 92 Pts
2020 Chante Perdrix – Flowers, nuts, spices, and smoked meat aromatics come through on the nose. Earthy, with tobacco leaf and herbs to accompany the soft, fresh, red fruits on the palate. This is going to be charming to enjoy on release. The wine blends 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Muscardin. Drink from 2022 – 2032. 91 Pts
2020 Chante Perdrix Etienne Pecoul – Round, lush, and polished with freshness, purity, length, and volume for the vintage, the wine is sweet, silky, and polished, with a garrigue and kirsch toned, tobacco leaf accented, spicy, green olive, leaning finish. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2023 – 2034. 93 Pts
2020 Chante Perdrix, Henri Perges – Inky dark in the glass, the wine is discreet at the moment and needs coaxing before you find mesquite, black olive, licorice, smoke, roses, and red fruits in the nose. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich, lush, and long with a peppery-accented dark red, black and blue core of polished, intense fruits. This should age quite well, so give it a few years in the cellar before popping a cork. The wine was produced using 100% Mourvedre. Drink from 2025-2040. 94 Pts
2020 Chapelle St. Theodoric La Guigasse – Spicy kirsch, garrigue, red plums, and strawberry create the nose. There is a strong sense of minerality that shines through here on the nose and on the fresh, medium-bodied, kirsch-filled palate. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2022-2033. 93 Pts
2020 Chapelle St. Theodoric Le Grand Pin – Roasted strawberries, flowers, orange citrus rind, spice, and roses create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is pure, clean, silky, polished, sweet, vibrant, and fresh, with a garrigue-accented, kirsch, supple-textured finish. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2023-2034. 94 Pts
2020 Chapoutier La Bernadine – The entry-level Chateauneuf du Pape from Chapoutier is medium-bodied, fresh, sweet, and creamy with ripe, spicy, red fruits, a touch of spice and herbs, and a nice vibrancy in the finish. The wine is made from a Grenache-dominated blend with some Syrah. Drink from 2022-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Spicy kirsch and scents of roses along with licorice, smoke, and espresso are already easy to find on the nose. Round, fresh and fruity, as well as soft and vibrant on the palate, this will be quite easy to enjoy on the young side. Drink from 2022-2032. 92 Pts
2020 Charbonniere Mourre des Perdrix – Herbs, espresso, spicy red berries, and peppery kirsch create the nose. The wine offers silky-textured, vibrant, herb and pepper-stained fruit on the palate with a peppery nuance in the red berry finish. The blend was produced from mostly old vine Grenache with equal amounts of Syrah, Mourvedre, and just a drop of Cinsault. Drink from 2022-2032. 92 Pts
2020 Charvin – Elegant, silky, and fresh, with a rich core of sweet, ripe, pure kirsch, herbs, and licorice, that continues from the nose to the mid-palate and completes the wine all the way through to the long, refined, cherry and red plum finish. The wine was made by blending roughly 82% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 4% Counoise, and 4% Vaccarese. Drink from 2023-2037. 95 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Dark raspberries, smoke, thyme, and flowers create the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, fruity, and loaded with sweet, dark cherries, coffee beans, cocoa, and kirsch. The wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 30% Syrah. Drink from 2022-2031. 91 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Coteau Brule – Dominated by Syrah, at 80% of the blend, with the remainder coming from Syrah, the wine is deep and dark in color. The nose pops with flowers, black and peppery red with blue fruits, and spice notes. On the palate, the wine is rich, full, and powerful, with layers of dense, chewy, round, peppery, dark fruits, licorice, chocolate, and iron that resonate. This is going to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage. Drink from 2025 – 2040. 94 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Grand Clos – Almost inky dark in color, the wine is equally dark in its fruit profile with nuances of smoked meat, barbecue, black plums, and mesquite. The wine is fleshy, meaty, dark, and deep with layers of black and dark red fruits, chocolate, and spices. The chewy textured finish has depth and polish. The wine is made using 100% Mourvedre. Drink from 2025-2040. 94 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Grand Vin – Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah provide a backdrop for all the layers of espresso, black cherry, smoke, olives, and blue fruit. The wine is concentrated dark and chewy with finish that sticks with you. Drink from 2025-2037. 93 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Homage to Heritage – One of the more interesting blends tasted year as it uses roughly 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Grenache Gris. The dark, ruby-hued wine is rich, lush, and exotically textured with an opulent, fresh, silky nature. But it is not shy. It is rich, full-bodied, dark, and deep with layers of chocolate-toned black, red, and blue fruits, espresso, smoke, and licorice. The wine is going to take time to develop and come together, so be prepared to give it a few years in the cellar. Drink from 2025-2037. 94 Pts
2020 Clos Saint Michel Reservée – Opulent, plush, and polished, the layers of sweet, dark fruits with the essence of black cherries and black raspberries with a judicious touch of oak are all over the place on the nose and lushly-textured palate. The wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 30% Syrah. Drink from 2023-2034. 92 Pts
2020 Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Flowers and kirsch notes define the wine. Medium-bodied, elegant, spicy, and fresh with a jolt of wild cherries and kirsch on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends close to 80% Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, Drink from 2022-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes Les Choregies – Soft, supple, fresh, and polished with a lean to the elegant, kirsch, plum, and chocolate side, there is a strong herb and olive note with a touch of black pepper that kicks in on the end. Drink from 2022 – 2032. 91 Pts
2020 Clos des Papes – Flowers are the first thing you notice before discovering all the spice, cloves, kirsch, and dark cherries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, elegant, fresh, supple, and refined. The kirsch shows a beautiful purity and spicy character, along with its refined tannins and peppery strawberries that kick in at the end of the finish. The wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah with the remaining 5% consisting of various, allowable grape varieties. The grapes are as always 100% destemmed. The production is quite low this year at only 25 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is 15.2% ABV, but you do not sense any heat. Drink from 2024-2038. 98 Pts
2020 Clos des Papes Blanc – Flowers, white peach, honeydew, orange rind, pineapple, and spice. Fresh, lush, round, oily, elegant, and polished, the sweetness in the fruit, especially the white peach notes stands out on the palate and in the finish. The wine is a complex blend of close to equal percentages of all 6 allowable, white wine grape varietals. The wine was produced from yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2023-2033. 94 Pts
2020 Clos du Mont Olivet – The distinctive bouquet of roses in the nose is just great. On the palate, the wine is supple, silky, and fresh with a core of ripe, kirsch, and black raspberries with additional notes of herbs and olives. The finish is equally racy and refined. This will be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2022 – 2032. 91 Pts
2020 Clos du Mont Olivet La Cuvee du Papet – Seductive in nature, the wine offers its ripe center of black raspberries and kirsch with little effort. Medium-bodied, with purity and finesse to spare, you can enjoy this in its youth, or age it for over a decade. Either way, this is quite a success for the vintage. Drink from 2023-2035. 94 Pts
2020 Comte de Lauze – Flowers, herbs, thyme, and kirsch open the nose of this medium-bodied, fresh, accessible, soft, polished charmer. You can enjoy this right off the bat for all of its sweet, ripe, clean, elegant, strawberry and kirsch notes. The wine was made from blending 80% Grenache with 20% Syrah. Drink from 2022-2030. 91 Pts
2020 Comte de Lauze Reserve de la Comtesse – With a nice depth of color, the wine opens with notes of flowers, smoke, black raspberry, black cherry, earth, leafy tobacco, and peppery herbs. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, polished, and with ample, dark, ripe fruits and a touch of cocoa for the vintage. The wine is made from blending 60% Grenache with 40% Syrah. Drink from 2023-2036. 93 Pts
2020 Cote de lAnge Vieilles Vignes – An array of spices and flowers along with a touch of oak and red berries create the nose. The wine is soft, fresh, and polished on the palate with a silky, refined, sweet, kirsch finish that will be a treat to enjoy on release. The wine was made using a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022 92 Pts
2020 Cristia Vieilles Vignes – Dark in color, the wine is loaded with black cherries, flowers, licorice, and kirsch on the nose. On the palate, the wine is deep, rich, and intense with a lushness to the fruit, a full-bodied and a polish to the fruits, and tannins in the finish. The wine was made using 100% old, vine Grenache. Drink from 2023-2034. 93 Pts
2020 Cristia Chateauneuf du Pape – Forward, fruity, and round with a touch of oak on the plum and kirsch-filled palate, this will show quite nicely with a year or so of aging. The wine was made using a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. Drink from 2022-2030. 91 Pts
2020 Cristia Renaissance – Produced from a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre, the wine shows off its nose of espresso, incense, smoke, flowers, and cherries. Round, full, oaky, and spicy with a chewy, kirsch, and cherry palate, this modern-leaning wine is going to offer a lot of hedonistic pleasure early in life, but you will need to be oak tolerant. 2023-2032. 92 Pts
2020 Crous St. Martin Hommage a L’an 1879 – Soft, sweet and fresh, with black raspberries, underbrush, herbs, and spice on nose, palate, and in the fresh, fruit-packed, peppery, chocolate-tinted finish. The wine blends 80% Grenache with 10% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. Drink from 2022-2030. 91 Pts
2020 Cuvee du Vatican Reserve Sixteen – Medium-bodied, forward and fruity with a softness to the black raspberries, strawberries, and kirsch that is perfect for early drinking, elegant, refined pleasure. Drink from 2022-2028. 90 Pts
As you can tell, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Report and Buying guide has too many great wines for just one article. In total, we tasted close to 250 different wines. With so many great wines, this report has been divided into 4 separate articles, Part 1, A-C, Part 2, D-I, Part 3, J-M, and finally Pt 4 N-Z. You can also locate all of the wines tasted, using either the Wine Tasting Note Search function or by utilizing the Article Search tab.
