Clos du caillou Chateauneuf du pape red tra 2020

The 2020 Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition is a red wine from the Southern Rhône region in France. This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, with fruit sourced from the family-owned Domaine de Panisse and no purchased fruit. This blend has led to the wine being critically acclaimed, receiving a score of 91 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. The wine as being made from Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, with black fruit notes. This profile suggests a rich and nuanced palate, typical of Southern Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds, which often feature deep, dark fruit flavors. Decanter describes the wine as fairly pale in color and transparent, with intertwined notes of red berries and herbal bay leaf. This description highlights the wine's freshness and brightness, along with its distinctive aromatic profile featuring notes of leaf tea. The winemaking process, as detailed by Clos du Caillou, involves manual harvesting with sorting in the vineyard and cellar, 100% destemming, and fermentation in concrete vats using indigenous yeasts. Manual punching down and rack and returns are performed throughout the maceration of the grapes. The wine is then aged in foudres and demi-muids for 14 months, which likely contributes to its complexity and depth. Additionally, wines made from this blend typically exhibit aromas of stewed plums, black cherries, blueberries, black olives, and even a hint of spiced dark chocolate. This rich aromatic profile is indicative of the quality and character of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. In summary, the 2020 Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition is a highly regarded wine, praised for its balanced blend of Grenache and Syrah, rich fruit notes, and elegant profile. Its traditional winemaking techniques and aging process further enhance its quality, making it a notable choice for wine enthusiasts.