Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019 comes from one of the most distinct wine-making areas of the world – Châteauneuf du Pape of France. The soils of the top estates look more like a pebble beach than a place where it’s possible to grow something. Still, thanks to its unique terroir, the best wines from this region are like no other wine in the world, although the same varietals are grown on every continent. It’s so good that the top producer’s wines are as exclusive and expensive as the top Châteaus of Bordeaux and Grand Crus of Borgogne.
Interestingly, Châteauneuf du Pape became the first official wine appellation in France declared 85 years ago.
Producer Story: Le Cellier des Princes
Le Cellier des Princes was created in 1925 and is among the most famous producers of Châteauneuf du Pape and is located in the heart of this prestigious region.
Today, Cellier’s vineyards cover over 3,200 hectares and include the main characteristic of Châteauneuf du Pape soil types: round pebbles, sandy, and clay/limestone soils. It allows them to create a wide range of wines from entry-level budget-friendly to some top-tiered wines.
Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019
In the Bottle
Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019 is 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. The fruit came from the selected parcels of old Grenache vines grown on the sandy soil with large round pebbles. The name “Sainte Vierge” comes from the Statue of the Virgin Mary in the vineyard.
The grapes were hand-harvested, de-stemmed, and macerated on the skins for 4-5 weeks in a temperature-controlled environment. Before bottling, wine was aged in concrete vats to show off the purest expression of the Grenache and the terroir.
In the Glass
It took ten to fifteen minutes for Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019 to open up and impress us with aromas of cherry, chocolate-dipped prune, green tobacco leaf, damp earth, and black rose.
The flavors of black cherry, Cornelian cherry (red tart berry), dark chocolate mousse, and sweet tobacco were in tune with the nose.
Impression and Finish
Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019 is a juicy, powerful, and loud wine. Considering that it was only two years old at the time of the tasting, it was expected. While it’s ready to be enjoyed now, another three to five years can help to tame its tannins and acidity and make it a more rounded wine.
Food and Wine: Cuvée Sainte Vierge 2019
Typically, Châteauneuf du Pape calls for steak, lamb, or duck. But the wineswinging motto is trying new things as often as possible.
We paired Cuvée Sainte Vierge with Tagliatelle pasta with homemade tomato sauce and Pecorino Romano cheese.
And voila, the acidity of tomato sauce helped balance the lively acidity of Cuvée Sainte Vierge, and the saltiness of Pecorino Romano softened the slightly angular tannins.
Do try it at home!
Have you tasted Cuvée Sainte Vierge or other Châteauneuf du Pape wines?
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