2 Stars - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2015 Vintage) 1 Star - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2014 Vintage)
VertdeVin "The nose is aromatic and offers intensity (in finesse), deepness, a fine concentration, an aromatic purity as well as precision and a beautiful bright fruit. It reveals notes of bright blackberry, bright cassis, small notes of bigarreau cherry associated with touches of bright violet plum, hints of lilac/laurel berries, zan, discreet hints of olive tree and an imperceptible hint of pepper (in the background). The palate is fruity, elegant, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, an aromatic purity, gourmandize, a beautiful suavity, precise as well as a fine straightness, harmony and a small harmonious side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright Boysen berry, bright cassis, small notes of violet, bright plum associated with touches of crushed raspberry, juicy/pulpy bigarreau cherry as well as fine hints of tonka bean, toasted, black olive, pink laurel/local copse (sense of the place) as well as very discreet hints of sweet spices. Good length. Tannins are elegant, fine and supple. A very discreet hint of good bitterness on the finish/persistence."
Decanter "Rounded, full-bodied, generous and good concentration for the vintage, but also quite approachable. This has some depth and intensity, a gentle mineral seam within that brings freshness and length. Has more focus and thrust than most 2018s. Fermented and aged mostly in stainless steel, along with some old barriques."
Wine Spectator "A singed alder note leads off, followed quickly by a mix of steeped plum and black cherry pâte de fruit flavors. Black licorice and graphite underscore the finish. Best from 2023 through 2034. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 50 cases imported. — JM"
Wine Enthusiast "Languid streaks of black plum and black cherry preserves are accented by hints of mocha and cinnamon toast in this plush, pillowy red. A blend of 90% Grenache augmented by small amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, it's a plush, delicately muted wine feathered in soft, furry tannins and a flurry of dried herb and baking spice notes that linger on the finish. At peak now–2025. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
Robert Parker "Round and supple, the full-bodied 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is a large-scaled ball of plum and blackberry fruit and savory nuances. Hints of mocha, black olive and licorice bring added interest to this soft, easygoing offering that should be consumed over the next 6-8 years."
Wine Spectator "An expressive version marked by linzer torte, raspberry coulis and plum pâte de fruit notes, with a licorice note lacing it all up through the finish, where flashes of apple wood, tar and red tea fill in nicely. This is for fans of the fruit-driven style. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse. Best from 2023 through 2036. 125 cases made, 50 cases imported" (2019 Vintage)
Decanter "This is the fourth vintage of Domaine de la Mordorée's earlier-drinking cuvée, sourced from 60-year-old vines grown mostly on galets. The fruit is all destemmed and fermented in old barriques, plus a little stainless steel. The aromas wake you up with their vivid, peppery, spicy fireworks. The palate is medium-bodied, with lovely concentration of fruit. There's real freshness and vitality here, with balanced acidity and snappy, saline, gently serrated tannins. It's so drinkable and moreish, I would pick this over their Reine des Bois in 2017, which has a much riper (I would say overripe) fruit profile. One of my value picks of the vintage." (2017 Vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "With it's pristine blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a juicy, freshly concentrated demeanor, the Grenache-dominant La Dame Voyageuse is more welcoming in youth than the producer's densely packed La Reine des Bois bottling. Etched by savory complexities of garrigue and walnut skins, and held upright by firm, velveteen tannins, it's a stunner in its own right that should drink beautifully well through 2030. Anna Lee C. Iijima" (2017 Vintage)
James Suckling "A rich and attractively ripe nose with very juicy, attractive berry flavors. This has a super rich feel and delivers such impressive depth and length of fine, supple and gently grainy tannin on the palate. There’s a lot to like here. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." (2017 Vintage)
Robert Parker "The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse boasts scents of leather, black cherries and dusty earth. It's not as concentrated as the Reine des Bois, but it's still full-bodied, with a generous, welcoming feel and a silky finish. Drink it over the next 6-7 years." (2017 Vintage)
The Wine Spectator "Intense, featuring lively licorice and plum reduction notes leading the way, followed by fruitcake, raspberry pâte de fruit and sweet tobacco flavors. Shows excellent drive and focus through the finish, with a nice graphite edge." (2015 Vintage)
Falstaff "Age-appropriate closed, dark chocolate and blueberries, on the palate a large extract is dissolved in the finest, the tannin has freshness and resilience despite its delicacy, develops an intense presence and leaves enough space for juicy nuances. Intense mineral substrate. A Châteaneuf without showmanship, made for a long life." (2015 Vintage)
International Wine Report J. D'Angelo "a simply sensational release in this vintage. It instantly beings to impress with its fantastic aromatic profile of blackberry, dark cherry and strawberries along with garrigue leather, bacon fat, black pepper and hints loam and tar. On the palate this displays a wonderful elegant character, with soft, polished tannins making for a gorgoeus mouthfeel. Layered and complex, this brilliant red goes on to impress with incredible purity, along with a gorgeous combination of earthy and meaty characteristics that continue through the long supple finish. While the 2016 is nothing short of outstanding now, it also shows incredible promise to become even more compelling as it evolves." (2015 Vintage)
Domaine de la Mordoree was founded in 1986 by brothers Fabrice Delmore and Christophe Delorme and has become one of the top estates in the Rhône, with arguably the exceptionally consistent quality. Christophe Delorme was highly regarded by Robert Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate, who pinned Mordorée as "one of the world’s greatest wine estates". In a 2007 issue of the Wine Advocate, Parker said:
"With 135 acres spread throughout some of the most impressive appellations of the southern Rhône, Christophe Delorme and his brother...have done nothing but produce one exquisite wine after another. Of course, the top cuvees of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are rare and expensive, but this is a place to find terrific Cotes du Rhones and Liracs as well. Delorme is equally adept at dry whites as well as reds, and turns out some stunning roses both under the Cotes du Rhône and Tavel appellations..."
With a total of 5 hectares of vines, many over 100 years old, Domaine de la Mordoree practices only self sustainable, organic farming of their vineyards in all their locations including Chateauneuf du Pape, Lirac, Tavel and the Cotes du Rhone. In 2013 Domaine de la Mordoree was certified 100% organic. The estate's Châteauneuf-du-Papes, Lirac Reds & Whites, and Tavel Rosés are among the most highly rated of the region.
Christophe produced his first wines in 1987. Up until that time the estate had been little more than a hobby for his father, an industrialist with two great passions; shooting and wine.
Christophe totally refurbished and modernised the winery as well as replanting much of the vineyards. Today the domaine has 40 hectares of vineyards - 7 hectares in Tavel, 15 hectares in Lirac (top-notch examples), 16 hectares for generic Côtes-du-Rhône and 3 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Following Christophe's untimely death in 2015, his wife and daughter, Madeleine and Ambre, have taken on the running of the domaine, ably assisted by Rémy Chauvet, who was the cellarmaster under Christophe. As Jeb Dunnuck has put it in the Wine Advocate, 'the estate is obviously still in incredibly capable hands'.
Christophe’s legacy and his talent live on through his daughter Ambre, as well as a talented team at Domaine de la Mordoree that includes winemaker Rémy Chauvet, who worked as Christophe’s cellar manager. Jeb Dunnuck praised the estate for the quality of their first vintage without Christophe, saying the Domaine was “obviously still in incredibly capable hands.”
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from the classic southern Rhône grape trio: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. These three varieties are behind the vast majority of the appellation's red wines, although a total of eighteen are approved for use – a mix of red and white grape varieties.
2 Stars - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2015 Vintage) 1 Star - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2014 Vintage)
VertdeVin "The nose is aromatic and offers intensity (in finesse), deepness, a fine concentration, an aromatic purity as well as precision and a beautiful bright fruit. It reveals notes of bright blackberry, bright cassis, small notes of bigarreau cherry associated with touches of bright violet plum, hints of lilac/laurel berries, zan, discreet hints of olive tree and an imperceptible hint of pepper (in the background). The palate is fruity, elegant, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, an aromatic purity, gourmandize, a beautiful suavity, precise as well as a fine straightness, harmony and a small harmonious side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright Boysen berry, bright cassis, small notes of violet, bright plum associated with touches of crushed raspberry, juicy/pulpy bigarreau cherry as well as fine hints of tonka bean, toasted, black olive, pink laurel/local copse (sense of the place) as well as very discreet hints of sweet spices. Good length. Tannins are elegant, fine and supple. A very discreet hint of good bitterness on the finish/persistence."
Decanter "Rounded, full-bodied, generous and good concentration for the vintage, but also quite approachable. This has some depth and intensity, a gentle mineral seam within that brings freshness and length. Has more focus and thrust than most 2018s. Fermented and aged mostly in stainless steel, along with some old barriques."
Wine Spectator "A singed alder note leads off, followed quickly by a mix of steeped plum and black cherry pâte de fruit flavors. Black licorice and graphite underscore the finish. Best from 2023 through 2034. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 50 cases imported. — JM"
Wine Enthusiast "Languid streaks of black plum and black cherry preserves are accented by hints of mocha and cinnamon toast in this plush, pillowy red. A blend of 90% Grenache augmented by small amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, it's a plush, delicately muted wine feathered in soft, furry tannins and a flurry of dried herb and baking spice notes that linger on the finish. At peak now–2025. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
Robert Parker "Round and supple, the full-bodied 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is a large-scaled ball of plum and blackberry fruit and savory nuances. Hints of mocha, black olive and licorice bring added interest to this soft, easygoing offering that should be consumed over the next 6-8 years."
Wine Spectator "An expressive version marked by linzer torte, raspberry coulis and plum pâte de fruit notes, with a licorice note lacing it all up through the finish, where flashes of apple wood, tar and red tea fill in nicely. This is for fans of the fruit-driven style. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse. Best from 2023 through 2036. 125 cases made, 50 cases imported" (2019 Vintage)
Decanter "This is the fourth vintage of Domaine de la Mordorée's earlier-drinking cuvée, sourced from 60-year-old vines grown mostly on galets. The fruit is all destemmed and fermented in old barriques, plus a little stainless steel. The aromas wake you up with their vivid, peppery, spicy fireworks. The palate is medium-bodied, with lovely concentration of fruit. There's real freshness and vitality here, with balanced acidity and snappy, saline, gently serrated tannins. It's so drinkable and moreish, I would pick this over their Reine des Bois in 2017, which has a much riper (I would say overripe) fruit profile. One of my value picks of the vintage." (2017 Vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "With it's pristine blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a juicy, freshly concentrated demeanor, the Grenache-dominant La Dame Voyageuse is more welcoming in youth than the producer's densely packed La Reine des Bois bottling. Etched by savory complexities of garrigue and walnut skins, and held upright by firm, velveteen tannins, it's a stunner in its own right that should drink beautifully well through 2030. Anna Lee C. Iijima" (2017 Vintage)
James Suckling "A rich and attractively ripe nose with very juicy, attractive berry flavors. This has a super rich feel and delivers such impressive depth and length of fine, supple and gently grainy tannin on the palate. There’s a lot to like here. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." (2017 Vintage)
Robert Parker "The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse boasts scents of leather, black cherries and dusty earth. It's not as concentrated as the Reine des Bois, but it's still full-bodied, with a generous, welcoming feel and a silky finish. Drink it over the next 6-7 years." (2017 Vintage)
The Wine Spectator "Intense, featuring lively licorice and plum reduction notes leading the way, followed by fruitcake, raspberry pâte de fruit and sweet tobacco flavors. Shows excellent drive and focus through the finish, with a nice graphite edge." (2015 Vintage)
Falstaff "Age-appropriate closed, dark chocolate and blueberries, on the palate a large extract is dissolved in the finest, the tannin has freshness and resilience despite its delicacy, develops an intense presence and leaves enough space for juicy nuances. Intense mineral substrate. A Châteaneuf without showmanship, made for a long life." (2015 Vintage)
International Wine Report J. D'Angelo "a simply sensational release in this vintage. It instantly beings to impress with its fantastic aromatic profile of blackberry, dark cherry and strawberries along with garrigue leather, bacon fat, black pepper and hints loam and tar. On the palate this displays a wonderful elegant character, with soft, polished tannins making for a gorgoeus mouthfeel. Layered and complex, this brilliant red goes on to impress with incredible purity, along with a gorgeous combination of earthy and meaty characteristics that continue through the long supple finish. While the 2016 is nothing short of outstanding now, it also shows incredible promise to become even more compelling as it evolves." (2015 Vintage)
Domaine de la Mordoree was founded in 1986 by brothers Fabrice Delmore and Christophe Delorme and has become one of the top estates in the Rhône, with arguably the exceptionally consistent quality. Christophe Delorme was highly regarded by Robert Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate, who pinned Mordorée as "one of the world’s greatest wine estates". In a 2007 issue of the Wine Advocate, Parker said:
"With 135 acres spread throughout some of the most impressive appellations of the southern Rhône, Christophe Delorme and his brother...have done nothing but produce one exquisite wine after another. Of course, the top cuvees of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are rare and expensive, but this is a place to find terrific Cotes du Rhones and Liracs as well. Delorme is equally adept at dry whites as well as reds, and turns out some stunning roses both under the Cotes du Rhône and Tavel appellations..."
With a total of 5 hectares of vines, many over 100 years old, Domaine de la Mordoree practices only self sustainable, organic farming of their vineyards in all their locations including Chateauneuf du Pape, Lirac, Tavel and the Cotes du Rhone. In 2013 Domaine de la Mordoree was certified 100% organic. The estate's Châteauneuf-du-Papes, Lirac Reds & Whites, and Tavel Rosés are among the most highly rated of the region.
Christophe produced his first wines in 1987. Up until that time the estate had been little more than a hobby for his father, an industrialist with two great passions; shooting and wine.
Christophe totally refurbished and modernised the winery as well as replanting much of the vineyards. Today the domaine has 40 hectares of vineyards - 7 hectares in Tavel, 15 hectares in Lirac (top-notch examples), 16 hectares for generic Côtes-du-Rhône and 3 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Following Christophe's untimely death in 2015, his wife and daughter, Madeleine and Ambre, have taken on the running of the domaine, ably assisted by Rémy Chauvet, who was the cellarmaster under Christophe. As Jeb Dunnuck has put it in the Wine Advocate, 'the estate is obviously still in incredibly capable hands'.
Christophe’s legacy and his talent live on through his daughter Ambre, as well as a talented team at Domaine de la Mordoree that includes winemaker Rémy Chauvet, who worked as Christophe’s cellar manager. Jeb Dunnuck praised the estate for the quality of their first vintage without Christophe, saying the Domaine was “obviously still in incredibly capable hands.”
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from the classic southern Rhône grape trio: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. These three varieties are behind the vast majority of the appellation's red wines, although a total of eighteen are approved for use – a mix of red and white grape varieties.
