Xavier Vignon Chateauneuf du Pape 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Considered one of the most modern and inspiring winemakers in the Rhone Valley, Xavier Vignon only began producing his own wines in 2002. Today, his estate extends over some 35 hectares of vineyards from which he produces excellent wines based on local grape varieties that best express the region's terroirs. Xavier Vignon's Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Clairette. The grapes are carefully selected from 40 plots characterized by different types of soils, including limestone, red sandstone, or even rolled pebbles (locally called galets roulés) and brown soils. Vinification takes place separately for each variety in a mix of stainless steel, concrete tanks, and truncated conical tanks. The wines are then aged for over a year in a mix of steel, terracotta, and wood. The wine has a clear and bright color with pale red tones. On the nose, it reveals a wide bouquet with aromas of black cherry, small red fruits, and aromatic herbs. On the palate, it is soft, rich, concentrated, and well-structured with fine and velvety tannins and a pleasant refreshing acidity. The finish is long and recalls pleasant fruity notes. It is an elegant and balanced wine that can stay in the cellar for a few years or enjoyed immediately with game birds or lamb.

Price: £27.67 from 8wines UK