Maison La Berthaude, Tradition Chateauneuf Du Pape 2021

93 points James Suckling
“A classic and well-made Chateauneuf-du-Pape with spiced cherries, mixed berries, dust and sweet spice aromas. Medium- to- full-bodied with plush, finely grained tannins. Nice texture. Velvety and well-balanced with a juicy core of fruit and a focused and vivid finish. 80% grenache, 15% syrah and 5% mourvedre. Better after 2025."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Blend: 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. The young and diligent Xavier Rolin is the 5th generation of vignerons in his family. Xavier is a cousin of the famous Perrin owners of Chateau Beaucastel in Courthezon. His family domaine is based in the village Chateauneuf du Pape very close to the Orange border. This district of the appellation is called Berthaude, thus the name Maison la Berthaude. Xavier’s family owns 40.5 total hectares including 15.5 hectares in Chateauneuf du Pape. The Domaine's vineyards span out over 72 individual parcels, each sub-plot has its own distinct reflection of “terroir”. And while some of the vines are more than 100 years old, the average vine age at the Domaine is about 60 years old; 85% of the vines are over 22 years of age. The Chateauneuf vines are planted on two types of soil. The first is a clay and limestone subsoil covered by the famous galets roules (large riverbed rounded stones). The second type of soil contains much more sand and fashions wines with higher toned aromatics and finesse.