PRODUCT OVERVIEW/REVIEW:
What is it about the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that makes its wines so special? Most of the credit must be given to the region's galets, or large stones that blanket most of the vineyards. Composed largely of quartzite, they retain moisture in the soil during the hot, dry summer months and capture the sun's heat, releasing it at night to hasten the ripening of the grapes.

Thanks to galets, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines beautifully juxtapose opulence and elegance, fruit-driven characters with minerally complexity, and age-worthiness and approachability. It is no surprise that Châteauneuf-du-Papes are among the most sought-after wines in the world among serious aficionados, but you don't have to be a collector to enjoy them.

Domaine Durieu was established in 1976 when Lucile Avril, the mother of Paul Durieu gave him a few hectares of vines as a wedding present. Shortly after that, he added an additional 5 hectares and built a cellar with wine-making facilities. The estate continued to expand over the years, and under the guidance of current owner Vincent Durieu, has grown to 37 hectares under vine, including some grenache vines that were planted in 1914!*

Today’s wine is made primarily from grenache, with smaller amounts of syrah, mourvèdre, cinsault, and counoise. The wine was aged for 12 months in concrete vats before bottling. From an excellent vintage (92 points, Wine Spectator), it is a rich, lush, and layered expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Check out the press!

92 points, Wine Spectator:
"A solid, gutsy style, with licorice snap, fruitcake, blackberry coulis, and linzer torte aromas and flavors, well-melded and backed by a graphite note on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2025." (10/31/13 issue)

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck:
"From an estate that has been knocking it out of the park lately, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a classic effort offering assorted red and black fruits as well as peppery garrigue, leather, and spice. It's medium to full-bodied and has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and an already complex, hard-to-resist style perfect for drinking over the coming decade." (11/11/22)

91 points, Robert Parker:
"The all-concrete 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape—a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Cinsault, and 2% Counoise—offers up pristine aromas of black cherries and red raspberries, just luscious, charming fruit. It's full-bodied and supple, with a silky feel, ample concentration, and plenty of length." (9/29/23)

PRODUCT DETAILS:
Producer Name: Domaine Durieu
Old/New World: Old World
Country of Origin: France
Region: Rhône Valley
Sub-Region: Southern Rhône Valley
Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Quality Designation: AOC
Grape Varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, & Counoise
Vintage: 2020
Product Type: Wine
Wine Style: Fuller Body Red
Winemaker: Paul Durieu
ABV: 15.5%
Pack/Size: 12/750 ml
Container Type: Traditional Dark Green Glass CdP bottle
Closure Style: Natural Cork
*adapted from wine cellar insider

ORDER TWO BOTTLES; DISCOUNT TABULATES AUTOMATICALLY TO $37.33/BTL.