Description
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the crown jewel of the southern Rhône, and the Cuvée du Vatican Réserve d’Abbé is an absolute must-try for any fan of the region.
The world-renowned wine critic Robert Parker—no stranger to the Rhône—has been a devoted admirer of Cuvée du Vatican since its 1970 vintage, the first case of Châteauneuf he ever purchased! In fact, Pope John XXIII gave his blessing to Cuvée du Vatican in 1958, and the winery still sends a case to the Vatican each year. Today, the Diffonty family is in charge, with Jean-Marc Diffonty praised for his exceptional work in elevating the winery’s quality. As Wine Spectator notes, “Châteauneuf-du-Pape has reached new heights under their leadership,” while Parker himself says Jean-Marc “has been doing a fabulous job here for over a decade.”
The most recent vintage received stellar reviews, including 91 points from Jeb Dunnuck and a glowing 95 points from Wine Spectator. The latter describes the wine as having “intense, ripe fruit” with flavors of plum, boysenberry, and blackberry, complemented by hints of licorice, applewood, and fruitcake. “Dense and packed with energy,” the wine offers “terrific cut and drive on the finish,” and is “built for the cellar,” with a hidden iron note that will develop with time.
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