2020 Chateau de la Font du Loup Chateauneuf du Pape Le Puy Rolland Vieilles Vignes

Château de la Font du Loup is in the heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the commune of Courthézon. Its colorful name, which means château of the fountain of the wolf, refers to a natural spring on the estate, where, according to legend, wolves stopped to quench their thirst on journeys between Mount Ventoux and the Provencal plains. Today the 50-acre estate is run by Anne-Charlotte Melia, who is the granddaughter of the estate’s founder, and her husband. Wine Advocate has noted that “lovers of silky, elegant and seamless Châteauneufs that show fabulous Provençal character need to check this estate out.” The estate makes red and white wines.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the appellation, is a large area of nearly 8,000 vineyard acres centered around the picturesque town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Located in southeastern France just north of the Avignon hills, the name of the appellation means “new castle of the pope” and it is a reference to the 14th century, when the Popes of Avignon built summer homes in the Southern Rhone Valley. Today the appellation is one of the most renowned in France and its terroir is known for layers of small pebbles, called “galets.” The stones in the soil are thought to help store heat and keep the soil warm, which helps ripen the grapes. The stones also help keep the soil from drying out in hot summer months. In 1923 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was a leader in establishing the idea that AOC wines in France should be made only with specified grapes, and the appellation allowed 13 grape varieties to be used. Since then the rules have been slightly modified to include several more allowable grapes. Red and white wines are produced, though in practice about 97% of all Châteauneuf –du-Papes are reds made with a blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvedre, Muscardine, Syrah and Vaccarese. The red wines of this appellation are prized for being big, rich, spicy and full-bodied. White wines of the appellation are made with Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Picpoul and Picardin. Whites are floral, fruity and relatively full-bodied.