Description

Château Mont-Redon will be familiar to those who know and love Châteauneuf-du-Pape being well recognized as the owners of some of the most highly regarded vineyard sites in the appellation. The superb quality of its 100 hectares of vineyards has been recognized throughout history and date back to the 14th Century. Prior to the change of the appellation controlee system it was one of the few “Grand cru’s” in the region (together with Chateau Rayas), and producing some of the most elegant of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

The majority of Mont-Redon’s vineyards are located in the appellations most favoured area, the high plateau which is covered in the large round pudding stones that Châteauneuf is so well known for. This remarkable property is in fact a single vineyard.

There has been considerable investment at Mont-Redon over the past twenty years. The entire winery has been completely renewed and is now climate controlled. Rows of oak barriques have replaced the old large foudres of yesteryear, and large temperature controlled stainless steel vats now line the walls, resulting in wines of freshness and finesse in both red and white wines. More recently optical sorting machines at harvest time have resulted in wines of great precision. Mont-Redon is clearly a candidate for not only the most improved producer and the best value producer of the Southern Rhone but now also one the very best producers in the large historic appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The reputation of Châteauneuf was built on its being “the most elegant and complex wine of the southern Rhône, not the most massive” and that’s the style that Mont-Redon pursues.

“This well-known, large Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate has produced some of the greatest Châteauneuf-du-Papes I have ever tasted.” Robert Parker Jnr

2016 was an outstanding vintage in the Southern Rhone … wines that equalled or exceeded the concentration of the 2015s but whose acidity and freshness elevated the wines to another level of vibrancy. Some are calling it the best vintage in 50 years! Josh Raynolds for Vinous wrote ‘If exuberant ripe fruit, harmonious tannins and an overall impression of generosity and lushness are what you’re after in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, then 2016 has plenty to offer. But the best wines also display real energy, making this a standout vintage.’

Joe Czerwinski from The Wine Advocate “The 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône seems comparable to 1982 in Bordeaux for the profound impact it’s likely to have on the market. These are incredible wines produced in reasonable quantities that are still largely undervalued. Smart consumers will snap up wines from their favorite producers as soon as they can, as the 2017’s will be even more expensive and harder to find when they’re released.’

This wine is 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre and 2% Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarese. 100% destemmed and fermented for 2-3 weeks in stainless steel tank. Matured half in stainless steel tank and half in
barriques (50% new) for 12-15 months, before blending and a further 3 months maturation in tank.
6 stars, John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, October 2018.‘Very dark robe, more black-purple than dark red. The bouquet is dense, unwavering, on a thorough black jam paste aroma, a super coulis of blueberry, nudges of black olives lurking. The palate is stylish, very filled, has salted threads along the way, the flavour one of bold black fruits with a sealed, always smooth, oily, gummy texture. This has enormous richness, fantastic length, is a very dense orb, with the tannins showing some spark and spice, tar, towards the close. It will live extremely well, has the balance and size of this remarkable vintage. A magnum would be amazing. This takes me back to the glory days of the 1960s here. Best 2058-2060.’

**Last bottles of this fine vintage **