Lavau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red 2020 ~ Rhône, France

92/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)
92/100 Robert Parker (2019 vintage)
91/100 Decanter (2019 vintage)
90/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2019 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2017 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
90/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2016 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2015 vintage)
91/100 Wine Magazine (2015 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2015 vintage)

James Suckling "Vibrant, fruity nose of red plums, cherries, raspberries, pomegranates, olives and red tea. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Round and supple. Some chocolate notes on the finish. Fresh and elegant for the appellation. Drink or hold." (2019 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "A solid négoce wine, Lavau's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape—a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, all said to be from sandy soils and aged in new barriques and stainless steel tanks—offers up ripe cherries on the nose, plus hints of vanilla and maple syrup. Full-bodied, ripe and supple, with a creamy, plush feel, this is easy to drink, while showing ample depth and charm." (2019 vintage)

Decanter "Holds the new oak remarkably well (50% new), it's not excessive in aroma or texture from this sample. Well balanced with fine tannins and a little salty note - pretty smart stuff. Should be good when it's ready, no excesses here. Best yet from Lavau." (2019 vintage)

Jeb Dunnuck "An outstanding wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape offers lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as plenty of pepper, cedar, and sappy, green garrigue-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s nicely textured and has terrific balance along with a great finish. A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, it was aged in 50% new oak, although you wouldn’t know that by tasting it." (2019 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Ripe, velvety swathes of blackberry and black-plum preserves abound in this full-bodied, softly tannic red. A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%) matured partially in oak, it is ripe in fruit but elegantly subdued by tones of freshly tilled earth, charred clove and graphite. Ready to drink now, it should hold well through 2028." (2018 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Intensely spicy, almost charry notes of roasted black cherry and plum abound on the nose. A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%) sourced entirely from sandy soils, it's a supple, profoundly fleshy wine framed by soft, feathery tannins. Its forward, youthful black fruit flavors will show best now–2027." (2017 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "It's an easygoing, accessible red with soft acidity and ripe tannins, but maintains an alluring whisper of earthiness through the finish. Hints of fur, bramble and moss lend elegance to forward, fruity tones of black plum and mulberry in this wine." (2015 vintage)

Jeff Leve "Medium-bodied, easy-drinking wine with a forward, red berry core of fruit. Best to enjoy this young." (2015 vintage)

A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%).

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family has been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley. The cellars of Lavau are currently managed by Benoit and Frederic Lavau, who work in partnership with 350 different grape growers.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous Southern Rhône appellation and the finest expression of the Grenache grape and Grenache based blends. The name Châteauneuf-du-Pape means ""new castle of the Pope"" and harks back to the early 14th Century when Avignon was chosen as the new home for the Pope's court. It is one of the most renowned appellations in France, famous for a layer of stones called galets (""pebbles"") that surround the vines. The galets soak up heat during the day, and release it during the night, thereby regulating the temperature of the vines.