2018 Cellier des Princes Chateauneuf du Pape 750 ml

The 2018 Cellier des Princes Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a formidable CDP, crafted by the sole cooperative based in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and masterminded by the recently passed consulting winemaker and Rhône genius Philippe Cambie, who had fifteen 100-point wines to his name. This is Châteauneuf as critics, collectors, and red-wine lovers adore it. 

This crowd-pleaser is Châteauneuf to the core. The nose is warm and spicy, with dark red plum, smashed blackberries muddled with licorice, cracked peppercorns, rose petals, and lavender. Mouth-filling, voluminous, and voluptuous, the palate has a spice-toned tannic structure that supports warm, polished fruit, leading to a finish with a long, rocky, mineral undertone and cracked pepper.

The producer, Cellier des Princes, is a historic mainstay in the region, having played an important role in the formation of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC in 1936. Their 2018 CDP was grown in the village of Courthezon in the appellation’s northeast corner, where the legendary galets roulés—river rocks that hold daytime heat and radiate it to the vines at night—lie on a sandy subsoil.

This blend is 90% Grenache—the dominant grape of CDP—which provides buoyant fruit, silky texture, and a rich body, while an additional 5% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre bring peppery spice and earthy, dark fruit. Aged in large concrete tanks, the wine emphasizes purity of the fruit above all.

2018 was a fantastic vintage, delivering exquisitely balanced wines that “are already complex, undeniably delicious, and loaded with character,” according to Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck. While this bottle will age gracefully, it’s perfect to open right now to experience the glory of Châteauneuf at a bargain price.