Château Capucine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2009

One of our wines of the year (2025), the 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château Capucine, named after his oldest daughter, is an excellent début vintage of this wine and, with Christophe's winemaking skills, an estate to follow. Warming it up in the glass a little reveals all sorts of nuances including rich cherry fruit, liquorice, garrigue herbs and spices but, as with all great wines, it is the texture that is the key to its quality and, after 16 years, it is this that makes it so very lovely (although the gorgeous fruit is a bonus!).

Drinking Dates: 2016 to 2030+

Cépagement: 100% old vine Grenache

Upbringing: old oak barrels

ABV: 14.5%

"A sleeper of the vintage that is loaded with potential. Its deep ruby/purple colour is followed by a layered, full-bodied wine displaying abundant kirsch, liquorice, garrigue and spice box characteristics and beautiful density, purity and overall equilibrium. This big, rich Chateauneuf was made from 100% Grenache aged in 100% small oak barrels. It comes from a sector of Chateauneuf-du-Pape known as Gallimardes and should drink well for a decade or more" 93/100 (Wine Advocate)