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97 WA. "Amazingly perfumed and floral, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a striking wine, drawn from the sandy lieux-dits of La Guigasse and Pignan. The blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre yields plenty of refined cherry and stone fruit elements, silky tannins and great elegance on the long finish. It's not the biggest kid on the block, just one of the best looking. What a pretty wine! This substantial estate totals 60 hectares in total, although only nine lie within Châteauneuf-du-Pape, concentrated in the sandier soils of the appellation's northeastern sector. On my visit, it was great to meet the young Marilou Vacheron, back to join the family estate after five years of business school, and the longtime (since 2002) winemaker Bruno Gaspard. The vineyards have been certified organic since 2010. Gaspard compares the 2016s to 2010 or 2005, he says, "but better."" Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate #233, Oct 2017 |