Wines

95 Points! I think the finest vintage for the classic cuvee ever, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a sensational blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah and the balance other permitted varieties. Aged mostly in tank, it offers a massive array of smoked herbs, lavender, black raspberries, toasted nuts, truffle and garrigue. Full-bodied, ripe, decadent and concentrated, it has slightly less structure than the '09, but has more raw material. This flat-out awesome Chateauneuf will have 20 years of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck, robertparker.com, 2015

Rolle, Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Clairette. Founded on organic farming principles, Domaine de la Mongestine stands apart as a true rarity in Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, a region known for mass-produced and standardized wines. Rows are planted on clay and limestone soils of some of the highest North facing slopes in the appellation, reaching up to 450 meters. The nutritious soils allow for a longer maturation process that preserves the freshness of the grapes and their acidity. The vineyard is further breaking the mold for Provence winemaking as it transitions to biodynamic viticulture, producing its wines with the least intervention possible and allowing natural processes to extract the fullness of the terroir. Aging takes place in inert tanks and amphora (traditional clay containers), where micro-oxygenation results in a fresh and fruit-forward white wine.

95 Points! The 2017 Chimère reminds me a little of the 2011 with its more elegant yet still powerful style. Beautiful notes of black cherries, blueberries, cured meats, pepper, tree bark, and new leather all emerge from the glass, followed by a rich, medium to full-bodied, tight, backward and unevolved Mourvèdre that needs forgotten for 4-5 years. As always, this cuvée is primarily Mourvèdre (it’s normally blended with Grenache and other varieties, even some white varieties) and there are a scant 100 cases made. - Jeb Dunnuck