M. CHAPOUTIER CHÂTEAUNEUF-du-PAPE la BERNARDINE 2022

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is perfectly suited for low-yielding Grenache plantings, hence the reason Chapoutier works heavily with this varietal. Chapoutier’s La Bernardine is quite unique in that it is a blend of mainly Grenache with a smaller proportion of Syrah and Mourvèdre, when 13 are permitted by AOC law. With this unique approach and the low-yield of his vineyards, Chapoutier produces a rich, flavourful wine with moderate tannins.

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"The blending of grape varieties is a characteristic of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. In "La Bernardine" red, Grenache is the main grape used in the blend, with a smaller proportion of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Grenache is a grape variety that brings a natural sweetness to the blend, which gives the wine elegance, silky tannins and great finesse.

Intense crimson-red in colour with a complex but subtle nose of blackcurrant and plum followed by roasted coffee, cinnamon, and cherry. On the palate, it opens into spice, licorice and fruity notes.

As its name implies, the history of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape commune and its wine are strongly tied to papal history. In 1308, Pope Clément V, archbishop of Bordeaux, moved the papacy to Avignon. Some years later, under the reign of Pope Jean XXII, the wines came to be known as “Wines of the Pope”. This term later became Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Jean XXII was responsible for the construction of the Château which is the symbol of the appellation."

92/100 Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, September 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape la Bernardine, a blend of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Syrah in unknown proportions, offers up aromas of cardamom, garrigue, spices and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and generously extracted, with plenty of youthfully chewy tannins, it's framed by a muscular, rather dense palate with a firm, slightly dry finish."