Château Sixtine
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
2018 vintage tasted October 2020.. Granted this wine is quite young—however, while the tannins may mellow, the aromatics will fade—and the aromatics are what makes this wine interesting (IMHO). Toffee, sage, and rosemary on the nose. Blackberries on the front, but the mild fruit is immediately overwhelmed by a wave of rough tannins. The tannins aren’t velvety like your standard CNdP (I feel like these are Burgundian tannins transplanted south). Lots of tart high notes at the end with nothing to balance them. But Let this wine breathe for an hour and it will mellow out a bit. I suspect Burgundy drinkers will love this wine, but Cote du Rhône drinkers will find this wine just a wee bit raw. At the end of my imbibing, I felt like I had been sipping a mid-level Burgundy. Despite my criticisms, it’s very drinkable but not great.
2018 vintage tasted October 2020.. Granted this wine is quite young—however, while the tannins may mellow, the aromatics will fade—and the aromatics are what makes this wine interesting (IMHO). Toffee, sage, and rosemary on the nose. Blackberries on the front, but the mild fruit is immediately overwhelmed by a wave of rough tannins. The tannins aren’t velvety like your standard CNdP (I feel like these are Burgundian tannins transplanted south). Lots of tart high notes at the end with nothing to balance them. But Let this wine breathe for an hour and it will mellow out a bit. I suspect Burgundy drinkers will love this wine, but Cote du Rhône drinkers will find this wine just a wee bit raw. At the end of my imbibing, I felt like I had been sipping a mid-level Burgundy. Despite my criticisms, it’s very drinkable but not great.
Oct 24th, 2020