2019 Domaine Les Cailloux (Lucien et Andre Brunel) Chateauneuf Du Pape

André Brunel has always been one of the benchmark vignerons of Châteauneuf du Pape and he compares the 2019 harvest to the exceptional 2010 and 2016 vintages, finding a unique balance between concentration and freshness.
Made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 3% Cinsault with vines on average 60 years old. Almost all of the vinifications and aging are done in concrete for a period of 18 months with the exception of the Syrah which gets aged in older oak.
Opaque black dark red colour with a bright dark red hue. Alluring black raspberry and liquorice aromas are followed by black cherries, scorched earth, herbs du Provence, graphite and peppered dried meat notes. Rich, powerful and possessing plenty of underlying muscle, opulent black raspberry, black cherry and liquorice fruits carry a remarkable freshness. Infusions of provincial herbs, light scorched earth, dried meats and spicy pepper characters linger on the back half. Excellent carry and drive with a sturdily constructured matrix of tannins holding everything in place. Muscular feel concluding long and succulent yet still quite restrained. Will open up beautifully with time.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews…..
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is flat-out brilliant, and readers looking for an incredible wine that will drink well for upwards of two decades should back up the truck on this one. Incredible black cherry, Provençal garrigue, pepper, and licorice notes give way to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced, seamless 2019 with ripe tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. You could safely put this up with the crème de la crème in a blind tasting and it would do just fine. The blend is 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault, aged mostly in concrete tank, with 12% brought up in old barrels.
95 points
JebDunnuck.com

Substantially darker and more concentrated than the 2018, the sample provided by the Brunels of their 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape shows why Lucien was excited to send it over, despite the vagaries of international shipping. Hints of thyme and lavender accent wonderfully pure black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, with a gentle wash of soft tannins on the long finish. It looks to be the best Les Cailloux since the 2016. Drink 2022-2035.
93-95 points
Joe Czerwinski – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate