M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois 2020

More framboise, strawberries, dried herbs, and savory, loamy earth-like notes emerge from the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Croix De Bois, another 100% Grenache release from Chapoutier that's brought up all in concrete tanks. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and balanced, it epitomizes the charming, rounded, already accessible style of the vintage perfectly. Give it just a few years and enjoy over the following 15+.

An elegant and crafty Chateauneuf-du-Pape made entirely from grenache. It delivers notes of red cherries, dark cherries, flowers and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with sinewy tannins and freshness all along. It’s crisp and bright despite the structure, with a crunchy edge and a focused, restrained finish with excellent length. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.

Good depth of colour. Black cherries and liquorice on the nose, good sense of ripeness. Very rounded, fruity, generous. Very ripe, with a touch of prune to the fruit. Good acidity, but it doesn't totally disguise the very high alcohol, which is warming on the finish. Ripe, long, juicy - I would drink young. Soft, with juicy tannins.