Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 'Le Plateau de Mont-Redon' 2017 1500ml (Single Magnum Wooden Case)

60% Grenache, 40% Syrah aged for 18 months in Burgundian barrels for 60% and in tank for 40% before blending and ageing in stainless steel tank for another 10 months before bottling. Made in small volumes only in the best years, this comes from plots chosen on the high plateau of galets roules.

’Impressive ripeness and depth for this vintage. Plenty of meat, floral and graphite aromas, as well as black plums. Round and silky, in spite of the generous tannins. Long and refined finish with more than enough power. Sustainable. Drink or hold.’ 94 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, February 2022.

’The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape le Plateau—the only one of these four vintages to be bottled—is velvety and forward, with notes of ripe cherries, cedar, vanilla and mocha. It's full-bodied, but not overbearingly tannic, making it approachable already. Only the second vintage to be produced, it's a 60-40 blend of Grenache and Syrah that matured in a mix of tanks and new barrels.’ Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, May 2022.

‘In the same ballpark, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Plateau comes only from the Mont Redon plateau and is a limited release based on 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah brought up in a mix of used and new barrels. Its saturated purple color is followed by a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, violets, and crushed rocks. With plenty of background oak, terrific depth of fruit, full body, and ripe, present tannins, it’s another balanced, age-worthy effort from this estate that should be snatched up by readers. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.’ (93-95) points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com, August 2019.

Château Mont-Redon will be familiar to those who know and love Châteauneuf-du-Pape being well recognized as the owners of one of the most highly regarded vineyard sites in the appellation. The superb quality of its vineyards has been recognized throughout history and prior to the adaptation of the appellation controlee system it was one of the few ‘Grand Crus’ in the region (together with Chateau Rayas).

With almost 100 hectares under vine, the majority of Mont-Redon’s vineyards are located in the appellation’s most favoured area, the high plateau which is covered in the large round pudding stones that Châteauneuf is so well known for. At this high point the huge pudding ston galets lie over a rich layer of clay which retains water and keeps the earth below cool as it helps the vines resist the torrid heat of each summer. In the 1960’s some limestone terroir on the western edge of the appellation was planted to white varieties which are perfectly suited to limestone and give whites of great freshness and purity. This remarkable property is in fact a single vineyard which is very unusual in Châteauneuf-du-Pape where holdings are usually quite scattered.

There has been considerable investment at Mont-Redon over the past twenty years. The entire winery has been completely renewed and is now naturally climate controlled utilising the water which lies deep below the clay plateau. From this water, cool air spills down into the winery cooling every level so that the whole winery retains a very cool temperature with natural humidity. Rows of oak barriques have replaced the old large foudres of yesteryear, and large temperature controlled stainless steel vats now line the walls, resulting in wines of freshness and finesse in both red and white wines. More recently optical sorting machines at harvest time have helped to remove any unripe or shriveled grapes as well as any vegetation resulting in great precision for every single wine.

In recent years the developments have continued at a great pace with Pierre Fabre being installed as wine-maker from 2008 and in 2017 Pierre took over management of the estate from his father and uncle. In 2017 he produced the first Gigondas from purchased fruit and in 2019 the purchase of more vineyards have been made in the southern Rhône. This remarkable estate will continue to develop apace as the potential of its great terroir is realised under the guardianship of Pierre Fabre.

Mont-Redon is clearly a candidate for not only the most improved producer and the best value producer of the Southern Rhône but now also one the very best producers in the large historic appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Mont-Redon looks destined to become one of the highest achievers of the Rhône Valley in the coming decade. Recent reviews confirm this trend.