Walls: 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try
As autumn approaches and we start to reach for fuller-bodied wines, Matt Walls picks 26 of the best white and red Châteauneuf-du-Pape available in the UK for £40 or under.
Why is it that Châteauneuf-du-Pape is so well known? Even non-drinkers can tell you it’s the name of a great wine. Its celebrity is built on centuries of impressive quality, but there are a number of other contributing factors: the papal seal of approval, a long history of exporting, and the fact that the name of the appellation tells its story.
The best wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape deserve this renown. But with an appellation spread over 3,200ha, inevitably there are some wines which simply aren’t that interesting, trading on a famous name rather than intrinsic quality.
Châteauneuf isn’t cheap: it’s almost impossible to buy a bottle for less than £20 today in UK retail. So if you’re on a budget, you need to step carefully. But it is still possible to find excellent wines under £40 per bottle – I even found a few under £30.
Scroll down for Matt Walls’ pick of 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try
Vintage by vintage
I tasted a total of 37 Châteauneuf-du-Papes, both red and white. The red wines spanned several vintages – I started with the youngest.
2021
A difficult season after devastating frosts, the 2021s are relatively light in concentration, with more red fruits (raspberry) than black, often with herbal nuances. The wines are built around acidity as their tannic structures are discreet. The best are fragrant and approachable, in an early-drinking style.
2020
After the fresh but light 2021s, the 2020s really showed their class; they are deeper, more concentrated, riper and better balanced, with a more sturdy Châteauneuf weight and style. There are still plenty of 2020s on the market, so now is a good time to buy, with options for drinking now and for medium-term cellaring. It’s still necessary to buy with care at this end of the market, but this is an excellent vintage, and one to bear in mind when you’re buying Châteauneuf on a budget.
2019
A very hot growing season that produced a crop of powerful, ripe and satisfying Châteauneufs – as long as the alcohol levels are in check. There are still some 2019s on the market for those that enjoy a bold style, both wines for drinking now and to keep.
2018
A difficult season due to an outbreak of downy mildew. Some successful wines however, in a soft, juicy, often high-alcohol style. Typical aromatic markers are strawberry and potpourri. A vintage to drink soon rather than hold.
2017
A tannic year producing enjoyably dark, robust, textural Châteauneufs. Still youthful, and most still have a long life ahead.
Older wines
Although this tasting was limited to younger wines, a quick look at what’s available in the UK market reveals plenty of mature wines for under £40 a bottle.
As long as they’ve been well stored, mature Châteauneuf can be a source of some serious bargains. If you have a taste for older wine, I would suggest looking at the following vintages: 2012, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 1999 and 1998.
Matt Walls’ pick of 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try:
Related articles
- Regional profile: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 & 2009: panel tasting results
- Vintage report: Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
- Vintage report: Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020
Domaine de la Solitude, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2022
Intense and shapely, showing plenty of pear and floral notes. Full-bodied, regal and impressive, with a generous mouthfeel and a long finish. A lot of...
2022
Domaine de la SolitudeChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Père Caboche, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2022
Fresh and appealing aromas of honey and flowers. Very full, lush, smooth and quite unctuous, but enjoyably dry and firm. The citrussy acidity combines with...
2022
Domaine du Père CabocheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château Mont-Redon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2022
Expansive fresh pear aromas flow from the glass with subtle floral touches and chalk dust. Full-bodied, lush and broad, the acidity is particularly low, with...
2022
Château Mont-RedonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Charbonnière, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2018
Butter, pastry and macadamia nuts on the nose – it's moved out of its youthful phase now, into a more mature state. Full-bodied, very lush...
2018
Domaine de la CharbonnièreChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Grand Tinel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2018
Now taking on some petrol notes, akin to aged Riesling. Full-bodied but not massive and still fresh. There are some subtle, smoky oak tones that...
2018
Domaine du Grand TinelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes, Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2022
The nose is reserved, with discrete apple, green pear and herbal nuances. Full, fairly weighty on the palate but clean-cut, not oily. Not particularly expressive,...
2022
Domaine le Prieuré des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Bois de Boursan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Herbal nuances among freshly squeezed forest berries. Juicy, ripe and powerful, with soft tannins and well-integrated acidity. Long and authentic. Will keep into the medium...
2020
Domaine Bois de BoursanChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Roger Sabon, Réserve, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Strawberry and blackberry jam aromas; this is enjoyably ripe and ready for business. Full, open-knit, generous, juicy. Quite punchy in terms of tannin and alcohol,...
2020
Domaine Roger SabonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos St Michel, Cuvée Spéciale, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Lovely nose, combining sweet spices and savoury notes. Silky, elegant, juicy fruit on the palate. It's powerful but not excessive, with a good feeling of...
2019
Clos St MichelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Solitude, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
This has the classic, herbal and raspberry nose which so many 2021 Châteauneufs display. Very broad, flowing and silky. Acidity feels natural and it has...
2021
Domaine de la SolitudeChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Grand Tinel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2017
Dark, brooding, blackcurrant-tinged nose. Structured and fresh blackberry palate. Really powerful and remarkably young. Blackberry acidity, with blackberry skin tannins which are a little rustic,...
2017
Domaine du Grand TinelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Jean Royer, Cuvée Tradition, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Lovely berry liqueur notes on the nose. Full-bodied, concentrated but not heavy and brimming with ripe fruit. Really provides all the concentration, power, body and...
2020
Domaine Jean RoyerChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Famille Perrin, Le Chemin de Mulets, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Clean, polished red fruits. Soft, silky and juicy, with flowing red berries across the palate. No rough edges, plenty of power and concentration. Alcohol is...
2020
Famille PerrinChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Giraud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Attractive violet, raspberry and bergamot nose – a very pleasing, scented style. Soft, mouthfilling, concentrated and generous; this has an inner core of freshness that...
2021
Domaine GiraudChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Marquis Ravardel, Les Sables du Valori, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
A touch of iodine to the plum and damson fruit. Precise, expressive, quite neat in style, but intense and structured. Tight, powerful, brisk acidity, showing...
2020
Domaine Marquis RavardelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Famille Brunier, Piedlong, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Gorgeous nose, displaying expressive damson and a touch of hung game; beautifully ripe but precise. Generous but not overly full-bodied, with a good sense of...
2020
Famille BrunierChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Camille Cayran, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Open, fruity, concentrated and powerful; this is summer berries in a blender. There's structure, however, and enough tannin to hold it all together alongside ample...
2019
Camille CayranChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Mousset Barrot, Château Jas de Bressy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2018
90
A very ripe aromatic profile with strawberry jam alongside some slightly meatier elements. Plum compote and potpourri on the palate. Very full-bodied, sweetly ripe and richly fruited, finishing on fruitcake notes. Does have some complexity and classic Châteauneuf markers, and it's very rich and heady.
2018
Mousset BarrotChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Vaudieu, Closerie de Vaudieu, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Dark, brambly blackberry hints and dried Provençal herbs. Not overly fat on the palate, with natural acidity and dry-clay tannins. Has some length, too. A...
2021
Château de VaudieuChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château Fargueirol, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
There's a little spicy note on the nose that helps to bring interest, and it has more concentration and tannin than most inexpensive 2021s. The...
2021
Château FargueirolChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos du Mont-Olivet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2018
Very red-fruited – a classic calling card of the 2018 vintage, with strawberry jam notes and some underlying complexity starting to rise to the surface....
2018
Clos du Mont-OlivetChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Biscarelle, Les Anglaises, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2017
Touch of volatile acidity on the nose, but also plenty of rich blackberry fruit. Lush on the palate, with a really interesting mouthfeel and a...
2017
Domaine de la BiscarelleChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Giraud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Perfumed red berry fruits. Very ripe, juicy strawberry and raspberry fruit with melted tannins. Easy-going style, distinctly Châteauneuf, very ripe with warming alcohol.
2020
Domaine GiraudChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Roger Sabon, Les Olivets, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2021
Quite restrained on the nose, not giving much away at this point except for some slightly smoky, reductive Syrah notes. Full, round, spherical and mouthfilling...
2021
Domaine Roger SabonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Hommage à J Duèze, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Expressive, open, quite joyful and approachable style. Full-bodied, concentrated and with plenty of juicy fruit. Alcohol is high but doesn't feel unbalanced, and there's some...
2020
Hommage à J DuèzeChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Olivier & Lafond, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2020
Violet, raspberry and cranberry gradually appear with air. Soft, full-bodied and concentrated. Quite tight tannins and a good sense of purity. A touch reductive, so...
2020
Olivier & LafondChâteauneuf-du-Pape
