“Xavier Vignon is one of the top oenologists in the Southern Rhône and releases a bevy of outstanding wines under his own label.” – Jeb Dunnuck

The last Xavier CdP we featured sold out in a matter of hours.

This one flashes the same style with the magic of a legendary vintage on top. Double 95 points and over 50% off?! Resistance is not only futile, but foolish…

So just how good are these 2016s you wonder? Jeb, the microphone is yours:

“The 2016 vintage was truly extraordinary for the Southern Rhône and is a vintage that readers should buy with abandon. This is the greatest young vintage I’ve ever tasted, both in terms of quality as well as consistency. I’ve never seen so many traditional cuvées achieve such high quality nor so many estates produce such truly extraordinary wines. In fact, the quality of many base cuvées made me ponder more than once if it was worth the uptick in price for the more expensive special cuvées. While these are ripe, concentrated, and exuberant wines, they also show an incredible purity of fruit as well as weightless, sensationally balanced profiles on the palate. They are complex, powerful wines that satisfy both the intellectual and the hedonistic parts of the brain… you will want these wines in your cellar.”

Gulp.

This is scary delicious Ops. Like that massive X on the label, hinting at forbidden fruit levels of a sinfully scrumptious experience that beckons enticingly. This for sure satisfies the hedonistic parts of the brain but also tickles the intellectual synapses as well. If the ripe raspberry liqueur dusted with dark cocoa doesn’t knock you out, the unctuous, plush texture amid a palate of freshly picked black cherries and a bazaar of exotic spices will. Not sure how he manages it, but the seemingly forever-lasting finish brings juicy fresh acidity and crushed rocks into the mix, culminating in a stellar red by any standard.

Xavier’s wines deliver at all levels from the entry-level Côtes du Rhônes all the way to the upper echelon like this. Every single one seems to attract rave reviews from critics and consumers.

Robert Parker raves that “Xavier Vignon, along with Philippe Cambie, are probably the two most highly renowned oenologists in Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well as some of the surrounding Côtes du Rhône regions. He is the consultant for such well-known domaines as Raymond Usseglio, Jerome Quiot, Beaurenard, La Nerthe, Mont Redon, Marcoux, Grand Veneur and La Gardine.” A mad wizard of CdP and beyond, he does things nobody else dares, you seriously need to experience his masterpieces.

Too bad they sell out fast. Still here? What are you waiting for? Dip your toes into this magnificent vintage and take home one of its most profound examples at a breakneck price.

95+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“Xavier Vignon is one of the top oenologists in the Southern Rhône and releases a bevy of outstanding wines under his own label. The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme is the flagship and is mostly Grenache that was sourced from numerous terroirs throughout Châteauneuf-du-Pape and brought up in a mix of tank and barrels (some new). It offers a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, lavender, Asian spices, and graphite. Like all of Xavier’s 2016s, it has purity, freshness, and richness, yet still packs ample richness and depth. Give this full-bodied, elegant red another few years, and it will keep for a decade. Drink 2019-2034.”

95 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“I visited Xavier Vignon at his aging-bottling cellar in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, just beside Château des Fines Roches. Fascinated by blending and tinkering, tasting with him is something like meeting with a benevolent mad scientist… ‘2016 was just like a dream,’ he said. ‘The best autumn I’ve ever seen.’ Many of his wines are released quite late onto the market, as he prefers to age wines up to three winters before bottling and two winters after bottling. The striking 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme is 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and the rest minor varieties (there’s no Syrah). Aged in a mix of foudres, demi-muids, barriques and concrete tanks, it shows hints of mocha and toast on the nose, but the blackberry and red plum fruit is mouthwatering and fresh, richly concentrated and spicy. Full-bodied, it manages to be ripe, silky and concentrated, while remaining crisp on the lengthy finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Drink 2020-2035.”