2019 Chateau la Borie Cotes du Rhone Villages 750 ml

The Rhône Valley turned in some impressive 95–97-point performances at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards—especially the marquee appellations. Putting up five top wines, Châteauneuf-du-Pape led the way. 

Then along came the gate-crasher: the 2019 Château La Borie Côtes-du-Rhône Villages.

Earning a rock-solid 95 points and a Gold Medal, this fleshy, elegant Rhône overachiever outscored Châteauneuf collectibles like Bosquet des Papes’ 2019 Chante le Merle Vieille Vignes ($72) and Olivier Hillaire’s 2019 Les Petits Pieds d'Armand ($93). It’s a spot-on ringer that will satisfy those who thirst for Châteauneuf every day of the week.  

In 2018, Frenchman and former wine importer Raphael Knapp shuttered his Los Angeles company, Return To Terroir, and took over Château La Borie, an 18th-century farm about a half-hour north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In 2019 he immediately began converting the vineyard to organics and making improvements in the winery.

Château La Borie was built in the 18th century by a descendant of the family of the Princes of Orange: Louis-Charles de la Baume-Suze, and his wife Dame Olympe Émilie de Suffren de Saint-Tropez. The domaine was once an outpost of the medieval fortress of Château de Suze-La-Rousse, to which it was linked by underground tunnels dug by the Knights Templar. 

Knapp makes this cuvée from 40% Grenache, 55% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre. He aged it entirely in tank, preserving all of its vivid black fruit without oak tones. We love this wine’s plum, blackberry, and violet aromas, and the accents of dried herbs, tobacco and mint. The mouthfeel is equally generous, delivering tons of ripe berries, plums, and sturdy tannins with a balanced acidity.