The wine offers exuberant red fruit, mainly strawberry, on the nose and palate, with the Grenache contributing round tannins. The Syrah and Cinsault bring structure and elegance. The finish is soft and lingering.

The grapes that make up this wine come from vines in two of the best vineyards in the region, located to the east and west of the Rhône. They have complementary qualities, allowing the Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah to reveal their best characteristics, thanks to the small yields and clay/limestone soil of the Saint Genies de Comolas in the Gard, and the power and hardiness of the grapes from the round pebbles and clay subsoil of the Travaillan, in the Vaucluse.

There are only a few wine regions that elicit pure excitement amongst the wine aficionados of the world, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhône is one of them. One of Châteauneuf’s most revered estates is that of centuries-old André Brunel, who has been in the region since the 18th century and has been making wine for eight generations.

Though originally named Domaine Les Cailloux by Lucien Brunel in 1954, its current name is after the seventh-generation owner, André Brunel. Under André’s leadership, the estate expanded rapidly, with vines in the Côtes du Rhône AOC as well as Vins de Pays. In 1971, after André took over, he launched Grenache-dominant Cuvée Centennaire, the estate’s top wine, which solidified André Brunel as a major player in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In addition, the family is leading the charge in the region for eco-friendly farming practices, eschewing chemicals at every turn.

André’s son, Fabrice, is now at the helm of this pioneering estate, overseeing their three appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and Vaucluse Vins de Pays, which represent three different tiers of wine. Grenache is the star variety in these wines, with a smattering of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault.

Acidity: 3.42 G/L
Sugar: <1 G/L
PH: 3.49
Alcohol content: 14.5%

Vintage: 2020

Style: Red Blend

Varietal: 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 10% Syrah

Appellation: Côtes Du Rhône, Rhône Valley

Winemaker: André Brunel