Chateau Mont-Redon will be familiar to those who know and love Chateauneuf-du-Pape being well recognized as the owners of some of the most highly regarded vineyard sites in the appellation. The superb quality of its 100 hectares of vineyards has been recognized throughout history and date back to the 14th Century. Prior to the change of the appellation controlee system it was one of the few “Grand cru’s” in the region (together with Chateau Rayas), and producing some of the most elegant of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.\n\nThe majority of Mont-Redon’s vineyards are located in the appellations most favoured area, the high plateau which is covered in the large round pudding stones that Chateauneuf is so well known for. This remarkable property is in fact a single vineyard.\n\nThere has been considerable investment at Mont-Redon over the past twenty years. The entire winery has been completely renewed and is now climate controlled. 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 resulted in wines of great precision. Mont-Redon is clearly a candidate for not only the most improved producer and the best value producer of the Southern Rhone but now also one the very best producers in the large historic appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The reputation of Chateauneuf was built on its being “the most elegant and complex wine of the southern Rhone, not the most massive” and that’s the style that Mont-Redon pursues.\n\nA blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah from sandy and galet stone soils. 100% destemmed and fermented for 2-3 weeks in stainless steel tank, followed by 8-10 months maturation in stainless steel. This wine has all the perfume and fleshy generosity of fully ripe Grenache fruit with freshness and finesse of tannins and that faint hint of provence herbs that makes southern Rhone reds, and Mont-Redon, so popular. Amazing value.\n\n2021 brought some challenges but what a great job Pierre Fabre has done here – a credit to his great winemaking. Lovely freshness as well as balanced tannins, for a wine that offers 3 to 5 years of aging potential. Dark berries and raspberries on the palate are offset by slight grilled notes and nuances of licorice.
