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Buy OnlineThe Grand Veneur 'les Champauvins' is an excellent new arrival to the shop and one that has got the definitive thumbs up from all the staff.
A considerable step up here from your more standard Côtes du Rhône owing to the fact the vineyard is actually only three metres away from being part of the revered Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. In fact, it is literally just a stone's throw away for the famous Château de Beaucastel vineyards.
The resulting wine is a decadent feast for the palate, with this GSM blend (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre) producing a full bodied and rich expression packed full of ripe berries, stewed plums, choc-liquorice and Black Forest cake notes, finishing with garrigue, spice and all things nice. Satisfying and complete. Highly recommended!
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Domaine Grand Veneur “Les Champauvins” stretches on 34 ha classified in Côtes du Rhône. The plots are located in the northern border of Châteauneuf du Pape, exactly from 3 meters outside the appellation. A small lane of rocks going through the rocky plateaux has been decided to be the AOC limit in 1936. Here, soils are made of red clay and rocks (pebbled stones of quartz). The quantity of rocks can be amazing as they can completely cover the soil (see picture). In summer and during the day, the rocks temperature will increase to 55°C. This accumulated heat will be get back to the vines during nights. Day after day, this unique phenomenon allows the grapes to reach a perfect maturity and produce a unique wine.
Intense, brilliant garnet-red colour. It reveals lovely fruit, loads of body and a heady bouquet of ground peppers, raspberries cherry liqueur, currants, and spice box. Full-bodied and dense, it tastes more like a “baby Châteauneuf” than a Côtes du Rhône. A complete wine, rich and elegant, thanks to the harmony of all the elements which make it up."
92/100 James Suckling, May 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"A velvety, poised and focused Cotes-du-Rhone with aromas of red berries, warm spices and a touch of bark. Full-bodied with round, ripe tannins. Creamy texture with a juicy and delicious core of bright berries funnelling through to the lively finish with excellent length. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."
Reviews for the 2020 vintage below…
93/100 Decanter (2020 vintage)
"Despite its Côtes du Rhône labelling, the 34ha Champauvins vineyard actually abuts the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards of none other than Château de Beaucastel. The wine is aromatic and lifted, exuding ripe crushed raspberries and juicy cherries, as well as more dark black fruit tones. The palate is sweetly-fruited, like blueberry yoghurt. Spicy, succulent, and finishing with dry tannins. This could be your go-to barbecue or mid-week red, but could also be worth keeping another year or two to see how it develops in bottle."
