Domaine St Prefert Chateauneuf Du Pape 2018

Drink now through to 2032. Decant 1 hour before serving.

St. Prefert was founded in the 1920s by Fernand Serre who purchased some 80 hectares of land here and established a reputation for making good quality Southern Rhone wines. Their Chateauneuf du Pape wines were amongst the first local wines to be exported to the United States, making them a global brand. Recently the domaine has enjoyed a resurgence under Isabel Ferrando who left a career as a successful banker to become a winemaker.

After learning the ropes at Domaine Raspail-Ay in Gigondas, Ferrando purchased St Prefert in 2002. As well as expanding the estate she has converted all of the vineyards to biodynamic agriculture and received official certification in 2013. This bottling is her classic Chateaneuf du Pape crafted predominantly from Grenache with an average vine age of 75 years, plus a drop of Mourvedre and Cinsault. Just a few hundred cases are made each year with the young wine aged for 18 months in 600 litre barrels and small barrels.

The nose is dominated by intense notes of crushed dark berries, cherries and dried fruit like raisins and plums. On the palate there is a generous full body, silky smooth texture and firm tannins that will help this wine to age beautifully in the cellar. Serve alongside seasonal game dishes or try pairing with roast beef.