Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Plateau de Mont-Redon Rouge 2018

97 POINTS - James Suckling
‘The nose of this extraordinary Chateauneuf is so enveloping. Incredibly deep aromas of Mediterranean herbs, savory and bitter chocolate. Enormous richness and tannin structure on the expansive yet compact palate, the interplay of these two elements creating an extraordinary textural complexity that runs through the super-long finish. Drink from release.’

Made in small volumes only in the best years, this comes from plots chosen on the famed Le Plateau de Mont-Redon, the high plateau of galets roules, (large round stones) that makes this one of the most prized terroirs in the appellation. These large stones up to 2 metres deep combine with fine safre (sandy soil) over thin layers of clay which provide important water holding capacity providing an ideally moderate supply of water. The plateau sits high and is exposed to the sun and the Mistral wind giving an optimal ripeness and sanitary state for the vineyard.

70 % Grenache (planted 1940s) and 30 % Syrah (planted 1950s-1960s). Hand harvested and 100% destemmed with 2-3 days of cold maceration and skin contact of 15-20 days during which extraction is performed mostly by punching down the cap of the ferments. Following 19 months elevage in 67 % barrique (50 % new) and 33 % stainless steel, the selected parcels are blended and aged on fine lees for a further 16 months in tank before bottling. Immense ageing capacity giving a wine which shows the quintessence of the older vines of Le Plateau de Mont-Redon.