Domaine de la Mordorée - Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The estate produces highly expressive wines from the finest vineyards of Vaucluse and Gard. Every effort is made with deep respect for the terroirs, driven by a commitment to crafting wines that live up to their full potential. Madeleine Delorme, alongside her daughter Ambre, continues to work with great care and determination, upholding the spirit of excellence that defines both the estate and this winemaking family. A superb range of salty, full-bodied whites and deep, delicate reds, animated by a refreshing tension and a perfectly balanced structure. The estate is evolving its style toward increasingly refined and precise wines. The fourth star is fast approaching.

Decanter

About the wine:

The nose is magnificent and already displays spicy and woody complexity. The tannins are abundant and will need time to settle, but the fruit is opulent enough to make the wait worthwhile. Very long finish. Made primarily from grapes grown on rounded pebbles in the Bois de la Ville, La Crau, and La Nerthe vineyards, fermented and aged 80% in stainless steel and 20% in used barrels. All destemmed.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A wide range of grape varieties makes up this deep, well-structured Châteauneuf, which impresses with its concentrated color and dense tears. A nose that is still reserved yet refined, with subtle notes of blueberry, juniper, and menthol, gives way to a fresh, long, and powerful palate, anchored by rich, velvety tannins and underscored by restrained acidity, allowing the wine time to develop. Suitable for aging.

About the estate:

Founded in 1986 by Francis Delorme and his son Christophe, the 58-hectare estate (certified organic and biodynamic) is spread across 38 plots and eight municipalities. Following Christophe’s untimely death in 2015, his wife Madeleine and their daughter Ambre took over the reins of the estate. Advocates of low yields, the Delormes produce vintages with disconcerting ease, whether in Tavel, their original stronghold, in Lirac, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or in “simple” Côtes-du-Rhône. A must-try.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Bottled just two weeks before my tasting, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois was nonetheless impressive, displaying lovely notes of cherry and berries. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it was quite crisp and lively, with rather dry tannins (perhaps due to its recent bottling), but it showed great concentration and length.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A complex and beautifully balanced Châteauneuf for this challenging vintage, with a wide range of fruit aromas ranging from ripe cherry to wild blackberry, as well as wild herbs and summer flowers. It is barely full-bodied thanks to its mineral freshness and crisp tannins. This cuvée is composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, and 5% Vacarese. Made from biodynamically grown grapes certified by Demeter. Enjoy now or celller.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Reine Des Bois,” the flagship of the lineup, displays a slightly deeper hue, with more blackberries and darker cherries, intertwined with notes of toasted herbs, black licorice, and peppery garrigue. It is concentrated and medium- to full-bodied, with a solid structure and a lovely finish. I would compare it to the cream of the crop of this vintage. Best enjoyed over the next 10 to 15 years. The 2021 is a standard blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and the remainder Vaccarèse, sourced from the vineyards Le Bois de la Ville, La Crau, and La Nerthe. It was destemmed and aged primarily in stainless steel (80%), with the remainder in used barrels and a small amount of new oak.