Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021: report and top-scoring wines
After tasting more than 1,200 Rhône 2021 wines, Matt Walls reflects on the successes of both the reds and whites in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape wasn’t hit as hard as some appellations, thanks in part to its proximity to the Rhône river, and its openness to the mistral wind. Nevertheless, volumes are down by about 20%.
In some ways this feels like an old-fashioned vintage; measured alcohol, good acidity, strict tannins, and – when sufficiently ripe – this can make for an enjoyably fresh and balanced style.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021 wines
Not all grapes reached full ripeness, however, resulting in many wines that are weak and dilute, with astringent tannins being a common theme.
It’s a highly heterogeneous vintage, and even some dependable producers suffered this year.
See all 400 Rhône 2021 tasting notes and scores
See the Rhône 2021 full vintage report and top scoring wines
Wines with a high proportion of Mourvèdre are often among the best. Pure Grenache cuvées are also worth considering, thanks to the lower alcohol, higher acidity and firm tannins that this vintage provides – elements that pure Grenache from here can sometimes lack.
While the reds lack consistency, the opposite is true of the whites – even inexpensive tradition cuvées are largely very good this year, and some of the cuvées spéciales are stunning.
They aren’t as concentrated and rich as the 2019s, instead they are fresh and zesty, more medium-bodied, with great aromatic definition and freshness. The whites will drink well now and age well too.
Rhône 2021 score tables:
All top Rhône 2021 score table
Top-scoring southern Rhône 2021 score table
Top-scoring northern Rhône 2021 score table
See also – individual appellation analysis on:
Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise | Rasteau, Cairanne and Vinsobres | Lirac and Tavel
Châteauneuf 2021 key producers:
Château de Vaudieu
Domaine de Beaurenard
Château de Beaucastel
Domaine de la Janasse
Domaine de la Solitude
Châteauneuf 2021 top value wines:
Château Sixtine, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos du Mont-Olivet, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos St Michel, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos St Michel, Tradition Biologique, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Solitude, Tradition Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Grand, Tinel Les Roussannes de Charles, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Back to the Rhône 2021 homepage
Matt Walls’ top-scoring Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021 wines:
The wines below all scored 96 points or above, and are listed white then red in score order.
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Château de Vaudieu, Les Vieilles Roussanne, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Richly aromatic, with deep pear and a touch of yellow melon. Lightly honeyed on the nose, then more noticeably so on the palate, with sweet...
2021
Château de VaudieuChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Beaurenard, Boisrenard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Nectarine fruit inlaid with a touch of fresh coconut. Full-bodied, generous and rounded, without any excessive oak - it's matured mostly in foudre and some...
2021
Domaine de BeaurenardChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Floral pear notes on the nose, an attractive and lively aromatic display. It has the characteristic generosity on the palate of this cuvée, but with...
2021
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Vaudieu, Clos du Belvédère, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Bright and zesty in aroma, with no overt oaking to detract from the purity of the fruit. Only medium-bodied, with lovely crisp acidity cutting through....
2021
Château de VaudieuChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Janasse, Prestige Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Full-bodied and just a touch oily. The oak is forthright, and this has great concentration and huge power before a driving, saline finish. Almost too...
2021
Domaine de la JanasseChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Solitude, Vin de la Solitude Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Full-bodied, generous and broad, then a powerful beam of surging acidity rides in to refresh and cleanse the palate. The oaking is robust and will...
2021
Domaine de la SolitudeChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château La Nerthe, Clos de Beauvenir, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Super-fresh and so dynamic. A lovely brisk acidity propels the tangy lime fruit long into the finish. The oak is quite present but well judged...
2021
Château La NertheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Fennel and grapefruit on the nose. Only medium-bodied, with a lovely sense of freshness and tension. Great brightness, acidity and balance. Pure and precise, with...
2021
Clos des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Raymond Usseglio, Pure Clairette, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Lovely soft and floral aroma - a slightly nutty kind of honeysuckle scent. Medium- to full-bodied, well balanced, with lovely freshness and pinpoint acidity. The...
2021
Domaine Raymond UsseglioChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Honeycomb oak on the nose, then quite a broad and generous palate. Sappy acidity, although not as high as some white Châteauneufs this year, and...
2021
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Solitude, Barberini, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Quite introspective for now, mostly just the nutty oak showing itself on the nose. Distinctly savoury, dry and medium-bodied palate. There's plenty of extract, giving...
2021
Domaine de la SolitudeChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Raymond Usseglio, Pure Roussanne, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Relatively brisk and nimble for a pure Roussanne, this isn't as oaked as some, which helps the fruit to shine through more clearly. It's zesty...
2021
Domaine Raymond UsseglioChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Famille Isabel Ferrando, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Touch of reductive smoky bacon on the nose. Full-bodied, rich, quite unctuous but dry. The lime peel finish has cut and salinity, making it long...
2021
Famille Isabel FerrandoChâteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bastide St-Dominique, Chapelle, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Honeysuckle and tarragon notes on the nose, which is quite introverted at the time of tasting. Full-bodied, soft and pillow-like in texture. Lovely sense of...
2021
La Bastide St-DominiqueChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Safres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Silky on the palate, with a touch of coconut oak and dried citrus peel. Fresh, balanced, with precise, cleansing acidity and a long finish. Not...
2021
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Very darkly coloured indeed. An extraordinarily deep and Mourvèdre-heavy fug of a scent; deep, but so fresh and searching. It's not overly full-bodied or heavy....
2021
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Cristia, Chapelle Saint Théodoric Le Grand Pin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Transparent ruby purple with an orange tint. Orange peel, thyme and iodine, with some resinous notes from the forthright whole bunch influence. Not terribly full,...
2021
Domaine de CristiaChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The...
2021
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Janasse, Chaupin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Relatively black-fruited for a pure Grenache, it's generous in fruit but not excessive, the alcohol is high of course (it's pure Grenache), but it feels...
2021
Domaine de la JanasseChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Réservé, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Relatively darkly fruited. Full-bodied but not as full as some years. Strong acidity, the tannins are present but not excessive. Really quite a tense, strict...
2021
Domaine de la Vieille JulienneChâteauneuf-du-Pape
