2020 Domaine des Senechaux Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750 ml

Robert Parker once called Domaine des Sénéchaux one of the “go to” wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Wine Access members crowned the last vintage with a member-rating that put it up with some of the most expensive and exclusive wines we offer. 

It’s no mystery why Sénéchaux has such rabid fans. The product of one of the top families of Bordeaux’s Left Bank—the Cazes, of famed Château Lynch-Bages—and one of the oldest estates in the cradle of the Rhône, it delivers the powerful fruit of Southern France in a polished, ageworthy package. The 2020—with an exuberant 94-point review from Jeb Dunnuck, who called it “beautifully balanced, elegant, and nuanced”—is another smash-hit, on par with regional icons like Vieux Télégraphe and Pégau. 

Domaine des Sénéchaux traces its history back to the 14th century, but the potential of this historic property wasn’t realized until the Cazes family took over in 2006. Since then, they’ve “done wonders with this estate,” said Jeb Dunnuck, who gushed that “the quality has soared over the past decade.” 

The late Jean-Michel Cazes made his name in the 1970s by revitalizing his family’s Bordeaux estate, Château Lynch-Bages, in Pauillac. With the help of veteran winemaker Bernard Tranchecoste, the Cazes family has restored Domaine des Sénéchaux to its rightful place among the very best in the Rhône. 

There is no extensive lineup of wines at Sénéchaux: They make just one rouge and one blanc. The red consists of about half Grenache, followed by Syrah and Mourvèdre. By combining grapes from different plots, Sénéchaux achieves a multifaceted sense of terroir—the ultimate balanced hand upon which to fashion a wine of finesse and elegance.