2020 Xavier Vignon Cuvee Anonyme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750 ml

In the summer of 2009, Robert Parker published issue #185 of his Wine Advocate newsletter. A section titled “Focus on the Southern Rhône” shined the critic’s red-hot spotlight on the region’s 2007 vintage, which he called its most extraordinary harvest since 1978.

After reading that report, we took to the phones, setting up a number of meetings with the Rhône’s top estates. But our focus wasn’t only on the icons: A largely unknown winemaker/enologist got plenty of attention in #185. His name was Xavier Vignon, and we called him up.

On our next trip to France, we shared dinner with him at his home in Le Barroux. After five hours of component tasting and blending and a sumptuous blanquette de veau smothered in fresh black truffles, we understood why the secretive and understated Vignon was known to some only as l’Assembleur—“the Blender.” 

Vignon has since thrilled thousands of our members with his rich, ripe, flawless Chateauneufs—and the 2020 Cuvée Anonyme is the kind of wine that put him in Parker’s pages alongside the heavyweight champs of the Rhône. The last vintage earned 4.44 out of 5 stars from our members, which puts it with some serious legends. 

Xavier Vignon is no longer the Southern Rhone’s best kept secret—Parker put an end to that—and this wine shows why he’s a star. Dark scarlet with purple highlights, it’s got a captivating nose of red cherry, blackberry compote, white and black pepper, and dried herbs, with powerful expressions of espresso bean, violets, and woodsy spice. Seamless on the palate, showing bold red fruits, peppery spice, and citrus zest flavors, it's built on a lush, full-bodied frame that retains remarkable energy.