Mission Codename Antioch
Give us ALLL the ‘neuf! Make it from the monumental 2015 vintage, please. And with a serious 95 POINT score + 45% discount! That’s the kind of soul-replenishing mana potion we need right now.
Days before the quarantine started, we were in, of all places - NYC - unknowingly putting our lives on the line hunting for treasures at Vinexpo. Seems like YEARS ago…but in between repeated trips to Joe’s Pizza we managed to find a few big winners - like this stunner of a CdP.
Gabriel Meffre started in 1936 as a négociant, and by the time of his passing in 1987, he had amassed 900 hectares of prime Rhône vineyards. Interesting side note - his daughter owns another hugely respected winery - Vaudieu. Yes, the winemaking roots run deep for this family. And of course, like any top Rhône producer, they sought the help of Philippe Cambie to level up their quality. Cambie is like a winemaking prophet, a Grenache wizard; he’s the guy winemakers call on to reach their highest potential. He is to the Rhône what Michel Rolland is to Bordeaux or Bill Belichick is to NFL coaching.
What you have here is a sultry, rip-roaring Grenache dominated blend with 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre coming along for the ride. The intoxicating nose alone will bring you close to olfactory ecstasy with all the “blueberry, cherry cola and vanilla” as Galloni accurately noted. But what really matters, the flavor - a dense mix of kirsch, dried cherries, savory herbs, and a kiss of sweet vanilla oak - will keep you coming back for more. There’s a terrific core of sweet red fruit and a soft, approachable, somewhat modern personality on display here.
There’s only ONE other seller of this wine in the country - by the case only - and their price doesn’t even compare! Check out the scores, too! At this price…it’s almost too easy to click that buy button. Don’t sleep on it!
95 Points – Platinum, Best in Show, Decanter World Wine Awards
“Magnificent aromas of dark berry fruits wonderfully combined with smoky-sweet oak. The palate is equally complex with beautiful ripeness and a refreshing nature. Lovely complexity, spice and elegance on the finish.”
93 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“Opaque ruby. Blueberry, cherry cola and vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose, which is complicated by a slowly emerging floral note. Palate-staining dark fruit, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors show a building spicecake nuance. The sweet, persistent finish features repeating floral and vanilla notes, and fine-grained tannins add gentle grip.”
Tasting Profile
Tasting Profile
Look | Dark ruby / purple color with a glowing garnet edge. |
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Smell | Blockbuster perfume of ripe cherries, black truffle, licorice, crushed rock, and flowers. |
Taste | Raspberry and black currant meld with a seaweed nuance, black pepper, and mushrooms. |
Finish | Beautifully broad, savory, and exceptionally well-delineated, lively, and focused. |
Pairing | Roasted poultry stuffed with herbs, Coq au vin, or anything with wild mushrooms. |
What the Winery Says
2015 'Saint-Théodoric' Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
- Consulting winemaker
- Phillippe Cambie
- Winemaker
- Véronique Torcolacci
- Varietals
- 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
- Vintage
- 2015
- Appellation
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône Valley
- Soils
- Quartz, sandy red clay
- Average Vine age
- 35-45 years
- Altitude
- 250-300 meters
- Vineyard size
- 4.5 hectares
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Aging
- 12 months
- Barrels
- 50% new French barriques