Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019: Report and top scoring wines
Matt Walls found the 2019 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to be exceptional in its own way, combining elegance with power, and excelling over neighbouring appellations.
‘A lot of tannin, a lot of colour, a lot of alcohol, but very fresh,’ says Jean-Paul Daumen at Domaine de la Vieille Julienne of the 2019 vintage.
This is a year that has a lot of everything in fact, but when it’s in balance, the results are highly impressive.
Scroll down to see Matt’s top Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 tasting notes and scores
It’s not a year of hugely structured wines like 2010, or effortlessly balanced ones like 2016, but 2019 is exceptional in its own way, combining elegance with power.
One reason that Châteauneuf excelled over neighbouring appellations this year is that it had two small rainfalls on 15th July and 15th August, helping to keep ripening on track.
‘Summer was incredible, beautiful, just perfect for Mourvèdre,’ says César Perrin at Château de Beaucastel. This grape variety performed magnificently in 2019, and the Grenache was notably dark and tannic. The wines that did less well often shared the same problems: excessive alcohol, overripe flavours and a lack of freshness.
Lovers of white Châteauneuf will find lots to enjoy this year, there are plenty of fresh and lively wines considering the intense climatic conditions. Most will be best when young.
For the reds, this is a vintage that will be delicious in the first four or five years after vintage, but I suspect it will close down for several years after that. When they resurface and their vivacious early fruits have receded, some won’t be able to hide their high alcohols quite so well. But those that found the right balance will age for decades.
Quick links
Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines: coming soon
Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise
Key producers in 2019
Château de Beaucastel
Clos des Papes
Le Clos du Caillou
Domaine de Cristia
Château la Nerthe
Le Vieux Donjon
Value picks
Alain Jaume Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge ‘Le Miocène’ 2019
Domaine André Mathieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge ‘La Centenaire’ 2019
Domaine de Fontavin Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge ‘Trilogies’ 2019
Domaine Georges-Lombrière Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge ‘Cuvée Marie’ 2019
Réserve Saint Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge ‘Crous Saint Martin Hommage à l’An 1879’ 2019
Domaine Julien Masquin Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc ‘Montplaisir’ 2019
See Matt’s top Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 tasting notes and scores
See also
Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report plus top scoring winesNorthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring winesSouthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Gorgeous perfume just jumps out the glass here, strongly scented and inviting. This is succulent and sweet, with an almost cherry kirsch, alcohol kick to...
2019
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Bright and floral on the nose. The tannins are extremely fine, almost imperceptible, but very much present, giving the wine a strong base for long...
2019
Clos des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Cristia, Chapelle Saint Théodoric 'Le Grand Pin', Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A cooling, very fine style, a little gentler on the palate than their Guigasse, finer, but then like a peacock's tail on the finish. Long,...
2019
Domaine de CristiaChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Réserve, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Captivating spice-led nose, this is a lithe, dynamic and athletic style of Châteauneuf. Very well balanced and focused with great aromatic precision. The alcohol is...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Vieux Donjon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very full-bodied with a lovely sweetness to the fruit, fine tannins and great freshness. Really shot through with juicy, sweet, chocolatey tannins and great concentration....
2019
Le Vieux DonjonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château La Nerthe, Cuvée des Cadettes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Full-bodied, this has weight and presence but isn't overly fat or gloopy. Very firm but not austere in structure thanks to the pliant Mourvèdre tannic...
2019
Château La NertheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Janasse, Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Lovely density of dark fruit, full and weighty on the palate. Powerful, long, concentrated and fresh. The alcohol is a little warming, but generally the...
2019
Domaine de la JanasseChâteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bastide St-Dominique, Secrets de Pignan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Silky and flowing, an elegant style of wine that's concentrated and fresh with fragrant thyme and black cherry flavours and a long finish that is...
2019
La Bastide St-DominiqueChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Mas de Boislauzon, Tintot, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very dark in the glass, this is soft and flowing with an earthy fragrance. Packed full of flavour and pliable, gentle tannin. The only minor...
2019
Mas de BoislauzonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Alain Jaume & Fils, La Fontaine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very smart indeed - fresh, perfectly balanced and a great expression of Roussanne - it captures its power, shows its affinity with oak, displays its...
2019
Alain Jaume & FilsChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château La Nerthe, Clos de Beauvenir, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A quintessential expression of white Châteauneuf here. There's some dried pear and quince at its core, but the wine is dry and finishes long. Well-balanced...
2019
Château La NertheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine André Mathieu, La Centenaire, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A soaring Châteauneuf - very harmonious, well balanced and long. Great vibrancy and freshness, with berry fruits and a lengthy, velvety finish. The wines from...
2019
Domaine André MathieuChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Low acidity, a little on the heavy side with pear, tarragon, quince, anise and touches of grapefruit and lemon verbena on the finish. Good length...
2019
Clos des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Vieux Donjon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Pale coloured, the tiniest hint of pink. This is a delightfully fresh, floral, light and perfumed style, no artifice or oak influence on the nose....
2019
Le Vieux DonjonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Safres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A refined and subtle Châteauneuf blanc, it's broad and full-bodied of course but it has a real inner finesse and precision. Very fresh, no excess...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Restrained nose showing fruitcake aromas. Firm on the palate with an assertive tannic structure and plenty of fruit.
2019
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Beaurenard, Boisrenard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Great purity and serious concentration without overt weight. A very powerful, complete, driving style of wine, big in tannin, acid and alcohol with a long...
2019
Domaine de BeaurenardChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Réservé, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Balsamic touches on the nose, with some dark chocolate and black cherry. It’s full-bodied, immense in size. There’s this huge driving effect from the rapier-like...
2019
Domaine de la Vieille JulienneChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Marcoux, Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is the flagship wine of Domaine de Marcoux. Pure Grenache, the 2019 was sourced from its two main plots: Charbonnières, on...
2019
Domaine de MarcouxChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Banneret, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Fresh crushed fruits with notes of cherry blossom and cured meat. Grippy tannins and crunchy acidity.
2019
Domaine du BanneretChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Giraud, Grenaches de Pierre, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very ripe indeed, but not overly so with massy, ripe sweet tannins. Deep and driving, full-bodied, but with a deeply ingrained freshness. Darkly fruited and...
2019
Domaine GiraudChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Juliette Avril, Cuvée Maxence, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Bright brambly berry fruits, with some raspberry making itself known. Very full and flowing - a lovely expression, that has a tapered finish ending light...
2019
Domaine Juliette AvrilChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine la Barroche, Pure, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very silky with mouthcoating fruit and tannin. This is powerful, packed full of fruit and acidity wit great finesse, but also muscle and an exceptional...
2019
Domaine la BarrocheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Roger Sabon, Le Secret des Sabon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very dark, powerful, slightly tarry and roasted with a very intense - almost too intense - acidity. Surprisingly dark for Grenache on sandy soils, extremely...
2019
Domaine Roger SabonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Saint-Préfert, Collection Charles Giraud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Lovely vibrant nose, the Mourvèdre really makes itself known. Very full-bodied and flowing on the palate, but it's backed up by amazing vibrancy of fruit...
2019
Domaine Saint-PréfertChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Quartz, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Deep liquorice and tarragon freshness here, this has a voluptuous texture, very rounded and generous. Ends firms and powerful, it's a wine with plenty of...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Safres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Blackberry, star anise and juniper. Only medium-bodied for a Châteauneuf, but this has plenty of impact and intensity. Lovely bright acid line and sense of...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
