2017 Domaine Santa Duc 'La Crau Ouest' Rouge Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Winemaker Notes:  In the northeast of the appellation, La Crau Ouest is one of the most storied terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One hectare with east-facing slopes, the vines were planted in the 1930s in stony, sandy soils from the Miocene epoch. Manual harvest in crates with sorting in the vineyard, followed by a second on the sorting table. Partial destemming. The percentage of destemmed grapes is decided according to the vintage and the plots. Gravity vatting and fermentation for 20 to 30 days in stainless steel vats under controlled temperatures. Two long daily pumpings. Malolactic fermentation in tank. Aged for 18 months in terracotta jars of 8 hectolitres. Bottling without fining or filtration.

A reference-point estate in Gigondas, the Gras family has been pillars of this winemaking community for six generations. Starting in 1985, Santa Duc ascended to prominence under the watch of Yves Gras, who introduced organic farming and expanded its holdings to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rasteau. Yves's son Benjamin took over in 2017 and received biodynamic certification in addition to building a new winemaking facility. Working exclusively with indigenous yeast, the wines are aged for 18 months in 36-hectoliter oak Stockinger foudres and eight-hectoliter terracotta amphorae. This estate integrates a thoughtful simplicity to the craft of winemaking that results in beautiful purity of expression in the elegant, focused, and polished wines.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Tasted from amphora, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau Ouest boasts a wonderful aroma that's a hybrid between cherries, purple raspberries and cassis. Full-bodied and rich, it nevertheless shares the same silky texture and almost airy feel that's become the house signature, finishing with incredible length. These 85-year-old Grenache vines on sandy soils often turn out the most compelling wine in the cellar."


Vinous - "Brilliant violet. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red berries, Asian spices, garrigue and incense expand with air and pick up a smoky mineral aspect. Palate-caressing, appealingly sweet Chambord, cherry cola and spicecake flavors are joined by an exotic floral pastille quality that gains strength on the back half. Juicy, focused and energetic in style, showing superb finishing clarity and smooth tannins that sneak in slowly. "


Wine Spectator - "Fresh and pure in feel, with a tightly focused, racy beam of red currant, damson plum and cherry coulis flavors, laced with a floral note and carried by well-embedded acidity through a lengthy finish. An understated style, but very precise. Best from 2020 through 2035."


Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Ouest checks in as 100% Grenache that’s sourced from sandy soils on the west side of the famed La Crau lieu-dit. Black cherries, strawberries, licorice, and earthy floral notes all dominate the bouquet of this solid effort. With medium to full body, considerable elegance, and top-notch purity, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for a decade."