Chateauneuf Du Pape is one of those wine styles that virtually everyone on the planet recognises, but it’s also a premium wine and therefore not most people’s idea of a midweek special.
Each bottle carries the famous embossed Papal Keys in memory of when that region of the Rhone Valley was also the seat of the Holy See, but it’s the grape varieties that are more important in recognising the style.
Once described as the 13 grape symphony due to the extraordinary number of varieties that growers are allowed to include, these days most use far fewer, with the main one often being Grenache. The dominant blend tends to be Grenache Shiraz and Mourvèdre.
The style tends towards the big bodied, powerful end of the spectrum with layers of complexity that so many other regions struggle to emulate, even in the New World where more and more GSM blends are cropping up every season.
Now for the bad news. Special wines tend to cost more and even the discount supermarkets struggle to list them much cheaper than £20 a bottle, so dig deep and enjoy the depth that the wine returns you for the price, especially as we head towards the Autumn.
(Image: Chateauneuf Du Pape)
Famille Perrin ‘Les Chemins des Mulets’ Chateauneuf du Pape
A cracking wine from one of the region’s finest producers with layers of warm plums and spice.
£34.99 per bottle or @29.99 mix six
M&S Collection Chateauneuf Du Pape
Another cracking wine from this incredible stable that Marks and Spencer have built up. Sweet fruits, plums and rich spices make for a rich, hearty wine.
M&S £25.00
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