Learn everything about Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tipss, best vintages, a history of the property and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important wineries and wine makers from the Rhone valley: Links to all Rhone Valley Wine Producer Profiles
Domaine Tour Saint Michel History, Overview
Domaine Tour Saint Michel was first established in 1930 by Michel Fabre. The estate takes its name from the tower on the property which you see as you enter the estate and of course, on the logo which appears on the bottles. The Southern Rhone Valley property has remained in the hands of same family after having been passed down through three generations of the Fabre family.
Since 2002, Mireille Fabre has been in charge of managing Domaine Tour Saint Michel. However the modern era for Domaine Tour Saint Michel really starts with the improvement of quality in the wines beginning with the 2007 vintage.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking
Domaine Tour Saint Michel owns 36.6 hectares of vines in Chateauneuf du Pape. 35 hectares are used in the production of red wine. 1.3 hectares are used to plant grapes to produce Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel also owns 5 hectares in the Cotes du Rhone appellation. The Chateauneuf du Pape vineyards of Domaine Tour Saint Michel has a terroir filled with rocks, gravel, pebbles and loam soil. The grapes are 100% destemmed.
The best vintages of Domaine Tour Saint Michel are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2007.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel produces 5 red Chateauneuf du Pape red wines and 1 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc in a modern style.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf du Pape is made from blending 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah. The terroir is pure rocks and stones. The vines are planted in the Crousroute, la Grand Coulet, le Petites Serres, and les Serres, lieux-dits. The wine is aged in tank.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvee des Deux Soeurs is made from 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah 3% Mourvedre and 2% Cinsault. The wine is aged in a combination of vats, foudres and French, oak barrels for 12-14 months. The production is on average 2,500 cases.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Le Lien is made using 100% old vine Grenache from a terroir of rocks, stones and clay. The vines are planted in the les Brusquieres and les Terres Blanches vineyards. Aging takes place in tank.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvee la Tour du Lion made its debut in 2003. The wine is produced from a blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre and 2% Cinsault. The terroir is rock and stone soils.
The vines are planted in the Coste Froide, la Crousroute, Fargueiron, Farguerol and les Galimardes lieux-dits. The wine is aged in a combination of foudres, tanks and small used, French, oak barrels for 12-14 months. The production is on average 2,000 cases per year.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvee Feminessance made its debut in 2007. The blend is usually 75% old vine Grenache and 25% Syrah. The Grenache is from vines that are at least 60 years of age.
The terroir is rocks and stones from the la Crousroute and les Serres vineyards. The wine is aged in an average of 50% new French oak barrels and 505 in used oak barrels for 12 months. The production is close to 650 cases per year.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvee des Soeurs Blanc – From a blend of 50% Grenache Blanc and 50% Clairette, the wine is aged in a combination of barrels and stainless steel tanks for 6 months. About 400 cases are produced each year.
When to Drink Domaine Tour Saint Michel, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Domaine Tour Saint Michel can be enjoyed on the young side. The wine when young should be decanted for 1 – 2 hours or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel is usually better with 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages the wine should be consumed within 4-18 years after the vintage.
Serving Domaine Tour Saint Michel with Wine, Food Pairing Tips
Domaine Tour Saint Michel is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Domaine Tour Saint Michel is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, barbecue and cassoulet. Domaine Tour Saint Michel is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant, tomatoes and cheese.
The white wine of Domaine Tour Saint Michel is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel also owns 5 hectare of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation for the production of both red and white wine.
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Wine Tasting Notes
25 Vintages 74,753 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2021
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Kirsch, black raspberry, and floral notes emerge with little effort. On the palate, the wine is plush, and polished with silky tannins and freshness that is easy to find in its red, berry fruit-filled endnotes, along with a hint of cocoa that comes in at the closing of the finish. The wine blends 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah. Drink from 2024-2031. 333 Views Tasted Jan 30, 2024 |
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2020
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Dark, deep and bold, the wine is round, fleshy and rich with layers of dark red berries, earth, chocolate, licorice, espresso and spice. The wine is produced blending 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2023-2035. 893 Views Tasted Jan 27, 2023 |
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2020
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Fleshy, plush and polished with its espresso and chocolate tinted dark red fruits on the nose and palate. Give it just a bit of time in the cellar to better integrate and it will be an even better wine. Drink from 2022-2032. 878 Views Tasted Jan 27, 2023 |
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2019
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Deep in color, with a touch of oak on th front that needs to integrate with time, still you find a powerful expression of dark, ripe, deep, lush fruits, licorice, espresso and smoke that hit your mid-palate perfectly and then keep right on going. The wine needs at least 5 years in the cellar, or more for everything to come together and fully integrate. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Drink from 2025 - 2036 2,260 Views Tasted Jan 9, 2022 |
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2019
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Le Lien (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
With good color, the wine is medium-bodied, with a bouquet of flowers, kirsch, cherry and black raspberries with nuances of peppery herbs on the nose and palate. The finish provides freshness and a good framework for all the sweet, ripe, spiced layers of red berries. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. Drink from 2024 - 2036 2,163 Views Tasted Jan 9, 2022 |
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2019
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Floral in nature with loads of ripe, lusciously textured red cherries, olives, herbs and spice, the wine finishes with touches of espresso, smoke, olives, peppery herbs and dark cherries. You should give this a few years in the cellar for everything to come together. Drink from 2023 - 2034 3,670 Views Tasted Jan 9, 2022 |
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2019
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Cherries, strawberry, and spicy kirsch notes are found easily on the nose and palate. The wine is soft, fresh, and filled with generous layers of ripe red berries with a touch of spice and herbs in the finish. Give this a year or two of age and it will be hitting its stride. The wine blends 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah. Drink from 2023 - 2034 3,404 Views Tasted Jan 9, 2022 |
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2017
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Lush, rich, ripe and layered with juicy dark red fruits, olives, licorice and spice, the wine is deep and concentrated. The peppery dark fruits in the finish have not fully overtaken the oak, so you will need to give this a few years in the cellar for everything to come together. The wine is produced blending 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 4,031 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019 |
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2017
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
With a dark hue, the wine opens with smoke, espresso, licorice, spice, incense and dark, red fruits. There is a nice depth of flavor here as the wine fills your palate with all of its dark, ripe, rich fruits. But there is a modern leaning here. So, some are going to like it more than others. With all of its power and discernible oak influence, this is going to demand at least 5 years in the cellar, or more for everything to come together and fully integrate. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 3,828 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019 |
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2016
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Le Lien (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Dark in color, the wine is silky, polished, fresh and vibrant. The fruit is elegant. Full bodied and deep, there is purity and symmetry in the layers of sweet, juicy, red fruit. The peppery, spicy kick in the end adds a lot to the wine. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. 3,172 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2016
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Dark in color, the nose offers up smoke, burnt charcoal and black cherry liqueur notes, Rich, ripe, lush and concentrated, the wine offers power, depth of flavor and layers of plush, sweet, ripe juicy, dark red fruits in the finish. The new oak used in the aging is already mostly integrated into the wealth of fruit. The wine is produced blending 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 2,885 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2016
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Deep in color, the wine is full bodied, round, fleshy and fresh. Ripe black cherry with peppery spice and herbs flows easily. Rich and concentrated, some bottle age will add more depth, softness and complexity to the wine. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 3,790 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2016
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The entry level wine for Domaine Tour Saint Michel is a winner. The fruit is sweet, fresh and clean. The kirsch hangs out with you while you dig into the thyme, herbs and pepper notes that add their nuances. 2,000 Views Tasted Sep 15, 2018 |
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2015
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
A touch of oak is the first thing you notice. This quickly moves to black cherry, plum and spice filled perfume. Full bodied, round and rich, this is a big wine that needs time to come together and for the oak to further integrate. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 3,494 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
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2015
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Le Lien (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Black cherry liqueur, charcoal, smoke and black raspberries open the nose. On the palate, the wine is full bodied and round, with supple textures and loads of sweet, ripe, juicy, red berries. The wine, made from 100% Grenache is long, and hedonistic. 1,820 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
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2015
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The entry level wine for Domaine Tour Saint Michel is quite strong. Made from 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the black cherries, red plum, cracked pepper and thyme are complimented by the soft, inviting textures and all the red fruits in the finish. You can enjoy this treat, while waiting for its big brothers and sisters to further develop. 1,634 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
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2015
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Provencal herbs, with kirsch and thyme on the nose. On the palate you find freshness, juicy kirsch and olives with black pepper. On the palate, you get these great, soft tannins, more herbs, olives and red fruits in the finish. 4,982 Views Tasted Aug 21, 2017 |
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2013
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Fresh, spicy, peppery, sweet, fresh red fruits with a soft textured, kirsch core provide a lot of pleasure. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. 2,413 Views Tasted Sep 7, 2015 |
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2012
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Deep in color, with a touch of wood and ripe dark berries, creates a fleshy, sexy, plush, concentrated wine that lingers in the finish. From 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, the wine reached 15.5% ABV with no touch of heat. 2,623 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2014 |
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2012
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Black cherry liqueur, rich textures and a wave of licorice coated, black cherries in the sweet, finish. Made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre, the wine reached 15% ABV. 2,664 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2014 |
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2012
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
With 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre, the medium bodied, silky wine has a core of ripe, spicy cherries and spice that is already showing well. 2,111 Views Tasted Sep 10, 2014 |
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2010
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Powerful, structured, tannic and rich, this needs to before it’s fun to drink. Forget about it for 3-5 years. 4,295 Views Tasted Jun 1, 2013Powerful scents of jammy blackberry, blueberry, licorice, plum coffee and spice. Normally, I am not a fan of oak in Chateauneuf du Pape, but it works well here with its rich, concentrated, plush textures and layers of sweet, ripe, opulent, jammy dark berry and black raspberry finish. 4,084 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2012 |
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2010
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée du Lion (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Lush, sexy berries, polished tannins and silky textures, make this rich wine a pleasure to taste. 3,371 Views Tasted Jun 1, 2013Spicy red fruits, blackberry liqueur and earth notes lead to a long, sweet, rich, plush, black cherry filled finish. 3,242 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2012 |
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2009
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Feminessance (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Modern in style, meaning it's not going to appeal to everyone, due to the oaky profile. I like it, but do prefer less of a vanilla, espresso note. Still, it was hard to not to enjoy the lush textures and ripe, silky, kirsch, black raspberry, earth and spicy components. If more of the oak integrates, this will be a more interesting wine. 2,174 Views Tasted Feb 22, 2015 |
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2007
Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Cuvée des Deux Soeurs (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Drinking perfectly today, the ripe, black cherries, jam, wet earth and herbs stand out in the nose, and in the medium/full bodied, round, soft, polished palate. 2,539 Views Tasted Aug 24, 2017 |
