Château Mont-Redon is one of the best-known producers of the most famous southern Rhône wine, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It grows north of Avignon, where the summer residence of the Avignon popes used to be - giving it its name. Mont-Redon has an excellent terroir in this AOP, the stony soil with the round pebbles stores the heat, at a depth of two meters there is a layer of clay from which the roots of the vines draw their vital water in this warm area. The Mistral also prevents practically any rot in the vines.
For the red Chateauneuf, Mont-Redon mainly uses the grape varieties Grenache Noir, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, plus smaller proportions of Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarèse. Half of the harvest is aged in 228L barrels and half in large barrels. After 18 months, the best batches are blended and bottled as the final Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The Mont-Redon Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge has a ruby red color of medium intensity. The scent is reminiscent of red berries, Mediterranean spices and has an attractive roasted aroma, coming from the barriques. On the palate it is smooth and very juicy, as befits a great wine from the southern Rhône. It is also enormously grippy in the very long finale, a very typical feature of the very good 2019 vintage. This classic is best served with wintry stews, pan-roasted beef when the wine is still young, or with hearty game dishes when the wine has aged a few years.
Additional note from Frank Rembold: speaking of ripeness: Mont-Redon Chateauneufs mature superbly. One of my finest old wines from the southern Rhône was the 1978 aged around 25 years.
