Domaine Saint Prefert - Chateauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud 2019 (750ml)
Price: $145.00
| Producer | Domaine Saint Prefert |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone |
| Varietal | Rhone Blend |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 4322 |
| Size | 750ml |
Just to the west of town, this Domaine has since 1998 been under the stewardship of brother and sister team of Marie and Francois Giraud, whose lineage in winemaking on their father’s side stretches back six centuries. Their parents, Pierre and Mireille had started in 1974 as tenant farmers and gradually built up holdings of their own. The first bottled wine from the estate was produced from vintage 1981 after Marie’s family distillery was converted into a winemaking facility.
The estate – totaling 35 hectares - has extraordinarily well-situated vineyards of mostly old vines on the plateau of le Crau, Gallimarde and in the Pignan region. The Gallimarde parcel is particularly cherished, being a continuous block of 8 hectares planted with century old Grenache and Mourvèdre, in addition to some younger Syrah vines planted on soils richer in clay. The rest of the estate is spread across various parcels over the northern parts of the appellation.
The estate has been organic since 2011. Fermentation is in stainless steel and concrete tanks. Grenache and Mourvedre go into concrete tanks for aging, but the Syrah goes into French oak.
The cuvee Tradition is made up mostly of Grenache. The Les Gallimardes rouge cuvee is from an old parcel in the south that has long been owned by the estate planted to 100 year old Grenache and some Syrah, with several white varieties, planted on clay limestone soils, with each variety being vinified separately. Covered in galets, this soil gives a typically authentic Chateauneuf of power and concentration. The Les Grenaches des Pierre bottling comes from very old Grenache planted in sandy soils on le Crau and in Pignan. The wine is a homage to their father Pierre. The wine combines power and finesse.
Vinous: 97 Points
Opaque ruby. A complex expansive bouquet evokes ripe red7blue fruits exotic spices and potpourri all enlivened by a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Sweet chewy and energetic in the mouth offering concentrated black raspberry boysenberry violet pastille and fruitcake flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end lift. The mineral and floral notes build on an insanely long penetrating finish shaped by emerging polished tannins. This monumental wine was fermented in concrete tanks and raised in demi-muids. -- Josh Raynolds
jdJeb Dunnuck: 97-99 Points
Lastly the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud checks in as normal split of 60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre brought up in used demi-muids. It’s a killer 2019 in the making and has lots of violets peppery meat and spice aromatics loads of cassis and red currant fruits a deep full-bodied mouthfeel building tannins and the purity intensity and length that this estate seems to deliver in just about every vintage.
jd
Wine Spectator: 97 Points
This is large in scale showing off a range of cassis red tea crushed plum warmed cherry compote Turkish coffee melted red licorice and warm earth flavors all seamlessly layered and carried through a lush yet focused finish. The warm earth note provides the ground wire in the end as the fruit takes an encore. Gorgeous. Grenache Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2024 through 2040. From France. ?J.M.
Wine Advocate: 96 Points
An assemblage of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre both aged in demi-muids the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud features a hint of brown sugar on the nose then waves of blueberries black cherries and plums plus some more savory suggestions of black olives. Full-bodied and showing tremendous richness and depth it's sturdier and denser than the Auguste Favier with a long dark earthy finish and plenty of tannin. Give it some serious time in the cellar. Tasted twice (once blind) with consistent notes.
