The striking bouquet of flowers, mint leaf, kirsch, cherries, and citrus stands out in a crowd. But it is the power, precision, and purity on the palate that let you know this is an exceptional wine. Intense yet relaxed, showy and discreet, this is a solid example of what Chateauneuf does best. This is a remarkable wine that needs to be tasted to understand what makes Chateauneuf great! This is a strong contender for wine of the vintage. Drink from 2027-2045. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2023&wine=Clos%20des%20Papes%20Chateauneuf-du-Pape

(99+ points) Notes of dark berries, lilac, dark cherries and fresh licorice introduce the superb 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos des Papes, a full-bodied, seamless and layered wine with a perfectly balanced, fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal finish. As I have noted previously, it will be a candidate for a perfect score after a few years of cellaring. -Yohan Castaing

Deeply coloured and quite dark in character, with damson and liquorice notes. It’s generous, full-bodied, quite spicy and fairly potent, with lovely bright, sappy acidity and very fine, soft tannins. There are some similarities with 2022 and 2020, though it’s not as punchy as 2022 nor quite as energetic as 2020. This should be very good, and will drink before both of these recent vintages. All destemmed, aged in old foudres. The estate had a good yield this year, at 25hl/ha.

Bottled in May and based on 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape was completely destemmed and brought up entirely in foudre. Its medium ruby hue is followed by a gorgeously complex nose of red and black fruits, Provençal spices, and roasted meats. It's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, layered, ultra-classy style that will drink beautifully for 20-25 years. Drink 2025-2048.

This stunning red manages to walk the line between dense ripeness and finesse. Layers of complex fruit, licorice and salted and dried plum lead off, filled in with singed anise, briny olive and earth notes, while finessed tannins hold everything together. Showing ethereal beauty, this is never heavy, with subtle oak sitting in the backdrop. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2043. 500 cases imported.

Impressive volume to this 2023, with so much texture and spices, yet it remains totally in control. Silky and fine-tuned, it showcases aromas of dark cherries, dark plums, exotic spices, dried flowers and some dried leaves. It's full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a seductive, silky texture. There’s precise polish here. The rich fruit and intense core of spice complement each other, providing a well-composed, harmonious palate. Long, succulent and flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Cassis pastilles, licorice, ripe blackberry, herbal tones and peppery accents introduce the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which was bottled in May 2025. Gently wrapped around smooth tannins with less apparent structure than the preceding 2022 vintage, the 2023 is an open-knit, accessible but ageworthy red Clos des Papes, hitting the palate with boatloads of jammy strawberry flavors. Juicy and smooth, the 2023 is one of the sexiest Clos des Papes in recent history and totally worth the hunt. -- Nicolas Greinacher