France: Le Clos du Caillou - Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Les Safres" 2023, Rhône Valley (Organic & Biodynamic)

Grape varieties: 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre. 14.5% alcohol. This producer is certified organic (since 2010) and also practices biodynamic viticulture - meaning the highest possible standards for the environment and for you the drinker.

Can age a long time although smooth and silky already: drinking through to 2041. 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is likely the Rhône's most famous appellation, renowned of course for producing powerful, complex reds (and fascinating, heady whites).

Its name translates as "the Pope's new castle," reflecting the area's 14th-century history as a summer residence for the Papal court in Avignon, hence why you often see the pope's ceremonial tall hat engraved on the bottles!

The Clos du Caillou was founded in 1895 and is today owned and run by the Vacheron family (Sylvie and her children Marilou and Axel), with the wines made by longtime, legendary winemaker Bruno Gaspard.

Their wines have featured in Jeb Dunnuck's The World's TOP 50 Red Wines of the year. They are amongst or close to the top tier of Châteauneuf producers, albeit they don't have the flashy superstar status of several others in the top tier, being small and family-owned, meaning they keep their prices very honest.

They also don't cloak the wines in lots of new oak (new oak being expensive) and use various types of vessel for fermentation and ageing - such as large clay jars (amphorae). Their objective in using various types of large vessel (rather than solely small oak barrels) is for the wines to express the fruit i.e. the character of the vineyard, and not to taste overtly of oak.

Medium-to-full-bodied, this is a beautifully balanced, generous yet elegant and velvety Châteauneuf-du-Pape, from a great, ethical family producer, and it's not crazily high in alcohol as some can now be.

As a wine that majors on old-vine Grenache, it's an absolute bargain when compared to other Grenache exponents (such as Château Rayas). 

What the experts say

"When Châteauneuf-du-Pape shows this level of seamless structure and purity, it can compete with the world’s most elegant reds. Leaning heavily on old-vine Grenache à la Château Rayas (many times the price), it makes for a gorgeously pure Châteauneuf full of crescendo-ing fruit" - Ian Cauble, Master Sommelier.

"The palate is layered and silky-smooth with spice and well-judged oak that adds a depth to the mid palate. Very fine and well-judged tannins give structure and tension to the brooding core of fruit. Very well balanced" - Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com

Food pairing

This wine loves warm, herbal, slow‑cooked Provençal-style dishes—especially lamb, game birds, and tomato‑based Mediterranean stews. Avoid overly spicy dishes. It will also be more than happy with the classics e.g. Sunday & Christmas Lunch, Beef Wellington.