Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse 2021 - Rhone, France

94/100 James Suckling
91/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
91/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
16/20 Jancis Robinson
94/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage)
94/100 Wine Enthusiast (2020 vintage)
92/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2020 vintage)
92/100 Vinous (2020 vintage)
95/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2019 vintage)
93/100 Wine Spectator (2019 vintage)
93/100 Vinous (2019 vintage)
91/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2019 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
92/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2018 vintage)
92/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
92/100 Vinous (2018 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage)
90/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2018 vintage)

Organic

James Suckling "A suave and sophisticated Chateauneuf for the challenging 2021 vintage. Plenty of very fine tannins on the velvety medium- to full-bodied palate are wrapped in a wide array of summer flower and red berry fruit aromas. Long and complex wild herb and savory finish. Delicious and ageworthy. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification."

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is a considerable success, given the difficulties of the vintage. It's the usual 90% Grenache, but perhaps it's a bit redder in fruit profile than usual, with notes of cherries, raspberries and strawberries. It's medium to full-bodied, taut and crisp but with silky tannins on the finish."

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Peppery herbs, flowers and kirsch define the core of this medium-bodied, forward, soft, supple, early-drinking charmer, finishing with sweet red fruits and spice."

James Suckling "A fragrant and spicy Chateauneuf that marries richness and structure with finesse and fascination. The fine tannins build beautifully at the self-confidently dry finish, where spicy and chalky elements mingle beautifully, with just a hint of milk chocolate neatly accenting this. A complex blend based on grenache. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification." (2020 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "This full-bodied wine has a decadent nose of black plum, red cherry, rhubarb, licorice, rose potpourri, cinnamon, clove and freshly turned earth. The palate is structured with concentrated black plum and black licorice up front, followed by a midpalate of warm baking spices, earth and a green peppercorn finish. " (2020 vintage)

Jeb Dunnuck "it offers a ruby/purple hue as well as a classy, perfumed Grenache nose of wild strawberries, cherries, dried flowers, and peppery garrigue. Playing in the medium to full-bodied, elegant style of the vintage, it has ripe yet present tannins, good purity, and outstanding length. The blend is 90% Grenache, 4% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Vaccarèse and Counoise. While this cuvée is billed as the entry level/second wine of the estate, it’s made in a very different style than the Reine des Bois and is well worth your time and money." (2020 vintage)

Vinous "Bright violet. Primary red and dark berry and garrigue scents are complemented by licorice and white pepper flourishes. Appealingly sweet and open-knit, offering energetic raspberry, cherry cola and lavender pastille flavors that tighten steadily with aeration. Shows fine clarity and spicy cut on a long, penetrating finish that's given shape by subtly chewy tannins." (2020 vintage)

Jeb Dunnuck " a beautiful array of both red and black fruits as well as classic Provençal notes of lavender, peppery garrigue, and flowers. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured on the palate, this is another terrific vintage for this cuvée, which remains an incredible value in the market today." (2019 vintage)

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. " (2019 vintage)

Vinous "Vivid ruby. Spice-accented red berry preserve and cherry aromas are complemented by pungent floral and mineral nuances. Appealingly sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering sappy raspberry, cherry liqueur, licorice and baking spice flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes supple, broad and long, with lingering floral and spice notes and well-knit tannins that lend shape and gentle grip." (2019 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...it delivers plenty of red fruit notes, ranging from redcurrants and raspberries to slightly darker cherries. Full-bodied and perhaps a touch warm, it's supple and fine, turning silky and elegant on the finish." (2019 vintage)

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. " (2018 vintage)

Jeb Dunnuck "...made in a more charming, forward style compared to the La Reine des Bois release.Ripe strawberries, red currants, toasted spice, and garrigue notes emerge from this classy, frontend loaded, already impossible to resist 2018. With soft tannins, a fleshy mid-palate, and a great finish, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade." (2018 vintage)

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" (2018 vintage)

Vinous "Shimmering ruby. Expressive aromas of cherry and red berry preserves, succulent herbs and flowers and baking spices pick up a spicy nuance with air. Sappy and penetrating, offering bitter cherry, black raspberry and rosemary flavors that flesh out through the back half. Closes long, smooth and broad, with repeating florality and subtle tannins adding gentle grip." (2018 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "...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." (2018 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...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" (2018 vintage)

Grenache 90%, Mourvedre 4%, Syrah 4%, Counoise 1% and Vaccarese 1%

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.