Domaine de Marcoux - Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

A historic landmark in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this emblematic estate was long run by the Armenier sisters, who raised it to the top of the appellation. Today, Sophie's son Vincent Estevin continues the family tradition with the same exacting standards. Biodynamic viticulture remains at the heart of the approach, with meticulous care given to each vineyard plot. The range is built around four cuvées: a fresh Côtes-du-Rhône, a full-bodied, structured white and two highly individual reds. The cuvée vieilles vignes impresses with its restrained power and masterful balance, while the cuvée Tradition continues to be the standard-bearer of this model domaine, which shines with the precision, depth and energy of these great terroir wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

This year, Sophie Armenier has produced just one cuvée, incorporating the old vines into this blend. However, Domaine de Marcoux's 2022 Châteauneuf du Pape reveals a deep, complex bouquet of spices, chocolate, wild black berries and garrigue, complemented by delicate notes of tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, round and concentrated, it is rich without being heavy, framed by a fleshy core of fruit, a soft, enveloping mid-palate and finishes with a long, saline finish. Given the challenges posed by the vintage, in particular the significant mildew in the vineyard affecting yield, this wine is a great success. Well done! This is a blend of 85% Grenache Noir and a mix of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault, all aged in a combination of foudres, concrete vats, barrels and amphorae.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Managed by Sophie Armenier and Vincent Estevenin, Domaine de Marcoux has established itself at the pinnacle of the appellation. The wines have a rare naturalness and depth, an energy and power on the palate that are not supported by any artificial ageing. These classic wines, marked by the imprint of ripe Grenache, age wonderfully. Despite high maturities, all the cuvées have found their balance and seem less hot than in the past, gaining in minerality and salinity.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is an excellent example of the vintage and presents a lovely, perfumed and incredibly Provençal style in its aromas and flavors of red fruits, savory garrigue, spices and pepper. With medium-bodied richness, a balanced and elegant palate, and ripe tannins, it already offers pleasure today, but given its balance and the quality of its tannins, it will shine for 10 to 15 years if stored well. The blend is composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 7% Syrah and 3% Cinsault, vinified entirely in concrete and aged almost entirely in concrete vats. There are no Vieilles Vignes in the vintage due to hail and low yields due to drought. So I suspect this cuvée benefited from the inclusion of some really excellent fruit that would normally have been used for the Vieilles Vignes. It's one of the best classic cuvées I can remember, and deserves to be a must-buy without hesitation.