Wine Portfolio : Rhone Valley

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, literally translated as "new castle of the Pope," is the original of the five southern Rhone villages that are their own appellation. Chateauneuf-du-Pape originated the Appellation de Origin Controlée (AOC) system in France.

Each estate creates its own special blend from among the classic 13 grape varieties permitted for this wine, predominated by Grenache. Most Chateauneuf-du-Papes are dry, full-bodied red wines; a small percentage is white. In most years, they need to age at least 10 years to reach maturity.

J et R imports six excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape estates:

Domaine du Pégaü

One of the best estates in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. "This superb estate fashions an old style, massive, unbelievably rich, rustic Chateauneuf-du-Pape," Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Bois de Boursan

"Bois de Boursan has become one of Chateauneuf du Pape's super estates. Proprietor, Jean-Paul Versino, is now entrenched as one of the appellation's super-stars," Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Domaine du Grand Tinel

"An exceptional world-class wine. One of the Rhone's most undervalued producers, Elie Jeune makes big, Grenache-dominated reds with an aroma of cassis that age superbly," Oz Clark, Wine Advisor

Domaine Eddie Féraud

A cousin of Laurence Feraud of Domain du Pegau; his wines are splendidly located

Domaine de Saint-Paul

An estate owned by Elie Jeune of Grand Tine, who makes this wine in the Gand Tinel style.

Les Vins Féraud-Brunel

"A joint effort between two of Chateauneuf du Pape's finest wine producers, Andre Brunel of Les Cailloux and Laurence Feraud of Pegau," Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Domaine du Pégaü

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, says, "This superb estate fashions an old style, massive, unbelievably rich, rustic Chateauneuf du Pape. If you want to taste what the old style Chateauneuf du Pape of the forties, fifties, and early sixties tasted like, buy a bottle of Domaine du Pégau. They are rich, rustic, sometimes massive Chateauneuf du Papes made with no concession to modern-day tastes."

Laurence Féraud is a Parker Wine Advocate Wine Personality of the Year: "It is rare in Chateauneuf du Pape to see a woman in charge of a famous estate... She is the most prominent female winemaker of the appellation."

J et R shares the US market with Hand Picked Selections (Martine's Wines has California and Nevada). The Chateauneuf du Pape rouge has 70-75% Grenache, 15% or more Syrah, 15% or less Mourvedre, and up to 5% other grapes, depending on the vintage. No fining or filtration. Aged 2 years in old oak foudres. The production is 6,000 cases per year. J et R is allotted 500.

Find out more about this estate...

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000 cuvée Réservée

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [95 rating]: "The 2000 Reservee may be one of the few 2000s that is better than its 1998 counterpart. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of creme de cassis, kirsch liqueur, cedar, licorice, and pepper. It smells like an open-air Provencal market. Sweet, fat, opulent, and voluptuous, with fabulous fruit concentration, sweet tannin, and a long, +45-second finish, this powerful, deep, seamless 2000 is impeccably well-balanced. A tour de force in traditional Chateauneuf du Pape."

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar [93 rating]: "Full ruby-red. Liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry, black cherry and licorice. Lush, fat and full in the mouth, with superb concentration and richness. A seamless wine with great Chateauneuf du Pape character. Complementing notes of tar and chocolate. Finishes with dusty, broad tannins and great persistence."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 1999 cuvée Réservée

Wine Spectator [94 rating], its highest rated Chateauneuf rouge 1999 (15 Dec 2001): "Wonderfully fragrant and impressively ripe. What Chateauneuf is all about - plenty of wet earth, mineral, plum, sweet tannins and sweet fruit. A cascade of pleasure, full-bodied and long on the sparkling finish."

Domaine Bois de Boursan

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, says "Bois de Boursan has become one of Chateauneuf du Pape's super estates. Proprietor Jean-Paul Versino is now entrenched as one of the appellation's super-stars."

The Chateauneuf du Pape rouge is 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% diverse old vines. Aged 2+ years in old oak foudres. No fining or filtration. 3000 cases; J et R is allotted 500-600. J et R Selections has exclusivité for the US.

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [91 rating]: "The dense ruby/purple-colored 2000 offers up a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, fleshy, seductive flavors, an unctuous texture, and a ripe, long, concentrated finish dominated by a black fruit character. It should be ready to drink early because of its low acidity."
Sold on pre-orders only.

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 1999

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [89 rating]: "The saturated dark ruby-colored 1999 offers a big, Provencal bouquet of earth, crushed pepper, garrigue, and black fruits. Pungent and spicy, with rich, soft, full-bodied flavors, it is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years."
Available.

Cuvée des Félix 2000

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [96 rating]: "The profound, opaque purple-colored 2000 Felix elicited the following words: 'Mama-Mia!' A fabulous offering, it provides a lesson in the flavors of Provence. It's like an open air Provencal marketplace with notes of dried herbs, saddle leather, fennel, licorice, black cherries, cassis, blackberries, and tapenade. With tremendous concentration and purity, as well as powerful, balanced, full-bodied flavors, this stunning effort represents the nectar of old vines planted in the sun-drenched appellation of Chateauneuf du pape. Although more forward than the 1998, is is equally fragrant. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020."

Châteauneuf du Pape blanc 2000

Aged 18 months in steel cuves then bottled. Drinks fresh for 2 years, then closes up. After 5 years becomes full bodied and fleshy. 35% Clairette; 30% Grenache blanc; 20% Bourboulenc; 15% Roussanne.

Domaine du Grand Tinel

Oz Clark in his Wine Advisor describes Domaine du Grand Tinel as "an exceptional, world-class wine. One of the Rhone's most undervalued producers, Elie Jeune makes big, Grenache-dominated reds with an aroma of cassis that age superbly. The vines are very old and it shows in the concentration of the wine." J et R Selections is the primary US importer; others import for some states. This family estate dates from 1770.

The Chateauneuf du Pape rouge is 80% Grenache; 10% Syrah; 10% Mourvedre, Cinsault, Cournoise. Vieille vignes (45-60 years). Aged 18 months in old oak.

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [89 rating]: "These are classic, traditionally-made Chateauneuf du Papes offering a smorgasbord of Provencal aromas and flavors in an uncompromising style that is satisfying both hedonistically and intellectually. The 2000 Chateauneuf is a sensual, seductive effort with a medium dark ruby/garnet color, and a huge, peppery, resiny nose with black cherry liqueur and currants galore. Lush, expansive, and hedonistic, its low acidity and plump, flashy character should provide undeniably sumptuous drinking for another 10 years."

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar [89 rating]: "Medium red. Smoky, jammy red fruits, truffle and tobacco on the roasted nose. Fat, lush and pliant, with rustic notes of truffle and smoked meat. Thoroughly ripe, smooth and long on the back end."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 1999

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [88 rating]: "Traditionally-styled Chateauneuf du Papes, Domaine du Grand Tinel's offerings always reveal a melange of pepper, spice box, and garrigue characteristics in addition to plenty of body, flavor, character, and Provencal typicity. The evolved medium ruby/plum colored 1999 exhibits a classic bouquet of earth, spice box, red fruits, and herbs. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, lush, textbook Chateauneuf will drink well over the next 8-9 years."

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar [88 rating]: "Good bright, full red. Liqueur-like aromas of superripe red fruits, licorice, nuts and smoked meat. Full, sweet and nicely concentrated, with lovely fruit showing today. Not especially complex but very attractive already. Firm, lingering finish."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 1998

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [90 rating]: "This reliable estate consistently turns out traditionally made, full-bodied, lusty, high alcohol Chateauneuf du Papes that age beautifully for 10-15 years. The dark ruby/garnet­colored 1998 offers up a sexy nose of fruit-cake, spice box, plums, and kirsch liqueur. It is immensely seductive and voluptuously-textured, with loads of alcohol, glycerin, and fruit. This luxuriously rich, decadently-styled Chateauneuf du Pape is hard to resist."

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar [90 rating]: "Medium bright-red. Perfumed aromas of red berry liqueur and sexy oak spices. Silky, lush and suave; the wine's underlying minerality gives dimensions to the flavors. Finishes with very smooth tannins and subtle persistence."

Also, a Guide Hachette two stars [** rating].

Châteauneuf du Pape blanc 1999

Wine Spectator [91 rating]: "Beautiful. Lively and fresh, full-bodied, with some wet earth, citrus and green apple notes combining in a complex, juicy package that has the cutting-edge taste of 'white Chateauneuf sorbet.'
760 cases made. The 2000 and 2001 are in inventory.

Domaine Eddie Féraud

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2001

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [88-90 rating]: "A strong effort from Eddie Féraud, the nephew of Paul Féraud of Domaine du Pégau. The deep ruby-colored 2001 exhibits a sexy, up-front nose of black cherries, pepper, incense, licorice, and a hint of iodine. Full-bodied and layered, with gorgeous fruit, outstanding depth, and a textured, supple finish with obvious tannin, it should hit its prime in 2-4 years, and last for 12-15."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [88 rating]: "The excellent, dark ruby/purple-tinted 2000 possesses supple tannin as well as a big, spicy, peppery, licorice, smoke, black currant, and cherry-scented bouquet. This full-bodied, lush, Provencal-styled 2000 is both a hedonistic and intellectual turn-on. It can be enjoyed now and over the next decade."

Domaine de Saint-Paul

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2001

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [88-90 rating]: "Owner Elie Jeune (who also owns Domaine du Grand Tinel) has fashioned an impressive, dense ruby/purple-colored, rich, textured 2001. Offering copious quantities of black cherries and pepper, this long, ripe 2001 reveals light tannin in the finish."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [87 rating]: "The Provencal-styled, peppery, garrigue, cherry-scented, spicy 2000 is a delicious, soft, easygoing effort. Restaurants should buy it by the case given its accessibility and flexibility with food."

Les Vins Féraud-Brunel

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate: "This is a joint effort between two of Chateauneuf du Pape's finest wine producers, André Brunel of Les Cailloux and Laurence Féraud of Pégau. They have fashioned the wines from purchases made in the southern Rhone. All are excellent offerings that should be available for realistic prices."

J et R Selections has exclusivités for the Chateauneuf du Pape in Michigan and Indiana.

Find out more about this estate...

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2000

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar [88 rating]: "Medium red. Fruit-driven aromas of plum, cherry and spices, with a faintly medicinal character (the fruit was not destemmed). Fat, ripe, plump and easygoing, with fruit and spice cake flavors. Not especially dense, but juicy acidity gives this wine good delineation and verve."

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 1999

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate [89 rating]: "The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape is a dark purple-colored effort exhibiting ripe aromas of black fruits intermixed with licorice and resiny notes. It possesses serious concentration, full body, powerful, concentrated flavors, and a strong finish with noticeable tannin."