Maison La Berthaude Chateauneuf du Pape Vignes Centenaries 2020

Southern Rhone; France

From rare 100+ year old vines. Planted in 1903 and 1906.

Iconic Galets Roules Soils

Old vines make the best red wines. As a vine age, it produces fewer and fewer grapes. The grapes they do grow are smaller with thicker skins, greater concentration. More skin contact to grape which is where the tannins come from. These plants naturally have low yields, making wines that have superb opulence,  more complexity,  matched with a pure elegance and greater potential to age. These wines have a purity and a refinement that cannot be fabricated or manufactured. Today’s wine comes from two vineyards: one planed in 1903 and the other 1906. Some of the greatest old vine reds I have ever had are old vine Chateauneuf du Pape. The wines of Chateauneuf du Pape are noble wines of the Southern Rhone, the finest from this region. The name ‘House of the Pope’ came from the fact that the Pope found shelter here many, many years ago fleeing persecution. Xavier Rolin is the 5th generation of winemakers in his family and he is a cousin of the famous Perrin Family of Chateau Beaucastel. His family Domaine is based in Chateauneuf du Pape in the district of the Berthaude, thus the name Maison la Berthaude. The vineyard features the famous galets roules, or rounded riverbed stones deposited millennia ago.  The Maison la Berthaude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vignes Centenaires Reserve 2020 comes from 100 plus year old vines and is like tasting history. This special bottling had spectacular concentration and purity and I was floored when I tasted it. 2020 is a buy vintage, 93-95 pts by the experts, accessible young with the ability to age superbly, the best of both worlds.  We have a great price, one of the great red wine regions of the world, some of the finest I have tasted, century old vine Chateauneuf du Pape.