Domaine Les Cailloux - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Great mineral and spicy bouquet; full-bodied with superbly shaped tannins. The whole is long, intense and of great dimension. Foresee great ageing potential.

About the domain :

André Brunel's wines always combine generosity, fine tannins and freshness. The white is very refined, with a high proportion of clairette. In the reds, Grenache dominates, with some Mourvèdre. Finally, the cuvée la-centenaire is made from very old Grenache vines planted on the Mont-Redon plateau. The 2014 is a classic expression of the style of wines from the plateau of large rounded pebbles of Mont-Redon. The 2015 cuvée centenaire is a great success, as is the 2016 white.

Decanter

About the wine:

A soft, elegant and refined style, very well balanced with good acidity and a tapering finish. The complexity should reveal itself with time. The heart of the blend is a 1.5-hectare parcel of Grenache planted in 1889 in a place called Farguerol, in the northern part of the appellation, on rolled pebbles over blue clay. To be enjoyed between 2022 and 2036.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Centenaire 2019 is made from around 84% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 6% Syrah, mainly from a vineyard planted in the late 19th century. Aged almost entirely in tuns, it nevertheless evokes smoke and campfire on the nose, while remaining dominated by black cherries and red raspberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, with plenty of depth and richness, it really shows its class on the long, silky, mouthwatering finish. It should age well for over a decade.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Intense blackberry nose with warmth and hints of thyme. A wine in a style that values purity over volume and fullness on the palate.

About the domain :

Little known in France, André Brunel is nevertheless one of the elite of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. His racy wines are characterized by minerality and refinement. The entire range is extremely consistent. The classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a quiet force, full of finesse and nuance. In the best years, the estate produces a small quantity of a magnificent cuvée from vines planted in 1889 on the Farguerol plateau, called Cuvée Centenaire, which was launched in 1989. It enjoyed rapid and well-deserved worldwide success. André Brunel still owns a few rare and magnificent old bottles, from 1947 and 1967 or, more recently, from 1978, which show an undeniable savoir-faire that is reflected in the quality of today's wines.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The estate's flagship cuvée is Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Centenaire 2019, and comes entirely from the Farguerol lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation. It is normally partially destemmed and aged mainly in concrete tanks. It has some of the finesse of the classic cuvée, but rises in intensity, offering impressive notes of blackberry, strawberry, smoky herbs, blood orange, spice and spring flower aromas and flavors. The palate is equally stunning, with a full-bodied mid-palate, solid but polished tannins, and a monstrous finish. Is this a return of the 1990? This beauty should flirt with perfection and be one of the most remarkable wines of the vintage.