Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape L’Avenue 2022

Southern Rhone; France

97pts JD 95pts Parker’s WA

All Grenache, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape L’Avenue is a slightly bigger wine, with more black cherry, cassis, sappy garrigue, pepper, and exotic floral notes in its beautifully balanced, layered, elegant profile. Its overall balance is spot on, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a focused, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. I love it today, yet it deserves 2-4 years of bottle age. You can put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. JD

Crafted from 100% Grenache Noir vines planted on red sandstone, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape l’Avenue offers up a somber character and aromas of spices, garrigue, herbs, licorice and dark wild berries. Full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, rich and structured, it’s well-balanced with velvety tannins and a long, powerful finish. WA

Vaudieu is one of the crown jewel vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape. The name Vaudieu is a shortening of French for “Valley of God” – a nod to the longstanding agricultural fertility of the region. Located about a five-minute drive outside the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape along the road which leads to Courthezon you will find Chateau de Vaudieu. It is one of three 18th century Chateaux located in the appellation, tucked into a small valley surrounded by hills and plateau. The estate has had a great reputation starting in the 19th century exporting wines all over Europe. They have a great and diverse terroir enabling them to blend the perfect wine. Their vineyard neighbors the superb Chateau Rayas and they have enlisted the great Phillipe Cambie ( Robert Parker’s Winemaker of the year in 2010) to assist.