Clos du Mont-Olivet - Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2022

Aromas of rose, black cherry, flowers, and Mediterranean scrub herald the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos du Mont Olivet, a medium-bodied to full-bodied wine, complex and textured, with a dense, fleshy fruit core supported by an abundance of soft, velvety tannins that lead into a long, full-bodied finish. Composed of 75% Grenache Noir, 10% Mourvèdre, 9% Cinsault, and small, equal proportions of Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picoult Noir, Vaccarèse, and Counoise, this wine stands out as one of the best reds I’ve tasted from this producer. Thanks to its structure and complexity, it promises excellent aging potential for over a decade.

A wine with a refined and complex bouquet that blends fruit, floral notes, and a lovely herbal freshness. It seems more delicate than usual—graceful and sunny, full-bodied yet refined—with the pleasant flavor of sweet fruit. (RVF Magazine No. 685—November 2024)

Despite its name, this highly fragmented estate encompasses nearly every type of soil found within the appellation. Produced using traditional methods, Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds are crafted to reveal their character over time: at ten years old, they express themselves with grace; at twenty years old, they reach their true potential—truffle, forest floor, and fruit matured by time. The white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, spirited and distinguished, is also worthy of attention. When the vintage permits, La Cuvée du Papet—dense and deep—often reaches an exceptional level.

An extroverted style, with aromas of ripe cherry coated in chocolate and kirsch, on a velvety and generous structure. Herbal notes add an earthy dimension, while mineral notes firmly anchor the whole. Lovely smoky notes of incense creep into the lush, warm finish, enhanced by hints of violet. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Picpoul, and Muscardin.

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is slightly better than the previous vintage. Notes of melt-in-your-mouth licorice, raspberry compote, and jammy black fruits take center stage. On the palate, there are no signs of the overripeness perceptible on the nose. Round and concentrated, with perfectly integrated tannins even at this early stage, the 2022 is a success and should be a pleasure to drink as soon as it goes on sale.

The exuberant nose of ripe raspberries and tart cherries invites you to discover this concentrated, well-structured Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It features a firm mid-palate, rich with notes of licorice, black olives, and spices, as well as a long, complex finish, beautifully supported by skillfully crafted tannins. A Grenache-based cuvée produced since 1932. It will reach its peak starting in 2025.

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is charming and elegant, with a fragrant style featuring red fruit and spicy aromas, along with mineral notes. It is one of the most elegant wines I’ve tasted at Thierry’s; it offers a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate, beautiful elegance, supple tannins, and exceptional length on the finish. Although it isn’t extremely concentrated, it possesses a certain tension and liveliness that lead me to believe it will age beautifully. I tracked this bottle over several days, and it gained depth and richness as it sat in the glass; so don’t hesitate to let it breathe if you plan to drink it soon. The blend consists of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 9% Mourvèdre, with the remainder being a mix of authorized grape varieties from different terroirs; it was partially destemmed and aged for 20 months in a combination of large oak casks, demi-muids, and concrete tanks.