“In my opinion, some of the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape are crafted here.” – Wine Advocate

My CdP brethren!!

Gather around. For today we have a truly special discovery.

Some will remember when we brought you Clos du Caillou’s Quartz. Easily one of Châteauneuf’s most loved wines. And surely the lucky few who landed some remember how great it was to steal some at $72.

The same young crew behind Clos du Caillou makes this. And yes, it has ALL the same qualities - 94-96 points from a trio of the professionals. All the juicy, deep, polished red fruit and spice you crave.

But there is one glaring difference. The PRICE.

We went to battle for you and landed this for $44. UNREAL quality for a highly rated collectible.

With a cult following in Rhone, the Vacheron family surely had grand visions in mind when they acquired this property. And you’re on the bleeding edge of what’s soon to become a highly allocated gem. At least, that’s what our prophecy foretells.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has the short story: “Joined by her daughter Marilou and son Axel, Sylvie Pouizin-Vacheron expanded their holdings by acquiring Domaine de Panisse, a 13.3-hectare estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Despite the inevitable changes brought by the different generations, Le Clos du Caillou has consistently produced wines of finesse and complexity, closely aligned with consumer preferences, while maintaining their intensity and distinct personality. In my opinion, some of the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape are crafted here.”

And now to Jeb Dunnuck for a spot-on assessment: “2022 is a very good to outstanding vintage that produced a bevy of charming, expressive wines to drink in their first 10-12 years of life… ripe and expressive, with incredibly Provençal, sun-kissed aromatics of herbes de Provence, spice, and even potpourri at times. The classic ‘garrigue,’ or the wild Provençal herbs that grow throughout the region, are present in varying degrees in just about all the wines. The fruit profile leans heavily toward the red end of the spectrum, with classic raspberry and strawberry notes.” Ditto Jeb, exactly so!

Really pure, energetic and suave. It pulses with fresh, bright minerality rippling through the bold red cherry, red currant, fresh garrigue, shiso leaf, and licorice notes. The purple flowers, the garrique, the spice and the fruit - and did Decanter say “Turkish delight?!” 🧿 SOLD.

It’s ALL THERE!! A long, finely tuned finish lingers on and on, and vibrant acidity carrying it all. It’s a complete CdP, impossible to resist today, but with the energy and verve you’d expect from a decade plus run of complexity build up, patience will pay off in spades.

Rarely seen out there, and never this low. This will go fast…

95 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “Owned and operated by the team at Le Clos du Caillou since 2020, Domaine de Panisse has improved the quality of its wines rapidly. It consists of two distinct parts: five hectares in Serrignan near Plan de Dieu (in Côtes du Rhône) and 6.5 hectares around the Domaine’s mas (farmhouse). Both were affected by the April 7 frost in 2021, but the wines from 2020 and 2022 are excellent, and even the 2021 wines are worth the price of admission. As the Vacheron family learns more about their new terroirs, expect quality to continue to improve. A brilliant wine in the making, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Mas exhales deep, elegant aromas of violet, lilac, dark cherries and garrigue, followed by a medium to full-bodied, round and gourmand palate enhanced by velvety tannins, bright acids and a fleshy core of fruit that leads the way to a long, peppery and savory finish. This is a blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, all planted on La Janasse lieu-dit. Drink 2026-2040.”

94-96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Bringing another level of refinement and complexity, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Mas offers notes of black raspberries, new leather, flowery incense, sandalwood, and spice, followed on the palate by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated red with ripe tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a gorgeous finish. It’s a brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the making.”

94 Points – Decanter “Smoky herbal notes, Turkish delight, then oodles of ripe, vibrant fruit on the palate, this has serious energy. Massive, textural and mighty, this needs time but will be excellent when it’s ready. No huge concentration, but great intensity and focus. Mostly aged in demi-muids, with very little new oak.”