Châteauneuf du Pape 2008 - Domaine Jean Deydier et Fils, Rhône Valley, France

A heady blend of Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah and Cinsault with a wonderful rich intensity of red fruits prunes and spices. An excellent style, well balanced with a full and complex finish.

Châteauneuf du Pape is one the most prestigious areas of the southern Rhône; the area both a red and a white wine but by far more red is made than white. Both are made with a blend of grapes. The red can contain as many as 13 different types of grapes, but the Grenache, Syrah and the Mourvèdre are the major players.

Our estate -bottled wine from Deydier et Fils is a blend of 1/3 Grenache, 1/3 Cinsault and 1/3 Mourvedre varieties; the grapes are hand picked from vines averaging an age of 50 years, and after a traditional fermentation in concrete tanks, the wine is aged in barrels for period of 8-16 months depending on the vintage.

This celebrated wine is a favourite of the French themselves. Produced by a small family winery in the southern Rhone Valley. The wine takes the name Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which means ‘Pope’s new castle’, from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon in the 14th century. John XXII is then credited with developing a papal vineyard in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Bottle Size: 75cl

ABV: 14.5%

Price per bottle: £20.54