Clos des Papes 2016 magnum Chateauneuf du Pape

The Estate

Clos des Papes — Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s Artisan Legend

Founded in 1896 and cultivated by the Avril family for five generations, Clos des Papes stands among the southern Rhône’s most revered estates. Paul-Vincent Avril, who took the helm in the 1980s, transformed this 35-hectare domaine into a benchmark for classic, age-worthy Châteauneuf-du-Pape — wines that balance power with remarkable finesse and express the full complexity of this legendary appellation. The estate’s name derives from the papal history of Avignon, though the domaine itself has always remained in private family hands, cultivating thirteen different parcels scattered across Châteauneuf’s diverse terroirs.

Avril’s philosophy emphasizes traditional methods, minimal intervention, and exceptional fruit selection — only the finest grapes from low-yielding vines enter the grand vin. The result is Châteauneuf of extraordinary depth and longevity, consistently ranking among the appellation’s finest alongside names like Rayas and Beaucastel. This lot of magnums from the stellar 2016 vintage represents a significant acquisition for collectors seeking slow-developing, classically structured bottles in the ideal format for extended cellaring.

This Lot

Available as Magnum (1.5L) — ideal for collectors and long-term cellaring.

Terroir & Grapes

Thirteen Parcels, One Expression

Clos des Papes draws fruit from thirteen meticulously farmed parcels scattered across Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s distinctive terroirs, including the famed La Crau plateau with its iconic galets roulés — large rounded stones that absorb heat by day and radiate it at night, accelerating ripening while maintaining freshness. The soils vary from sandy clay to red clay with limestone, allowing Avril to craft a blend that captures the appellation’s full aromatic spectrum. Each parcel is vinified separately, then blended according to the vintage character, ensuring balance and complexity in the final wine.

The estate cultivates all thirteen permitted Châteauneuf varieties, with Grenache forming the backbone supported by Mourvèdre, Syrah, and smaller proportions of white grapes including Clairette and Roussanne, which add aromatic lift and structural complexity to the red cuvée. Vines average 50 years of age, with some parcels planted in the 1920s, yielding concentrated, low-vigor fruit that forms the foundation of the wine’s legendary aging potential.

Vinification & Ageing

Traditional Craftsmanship

Paul-Vincent Avril employs rigorously traditional methods: grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, rigorously sorted, then fermented parcel by parcel in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts. Fermentation temperatures are carefully controlled, and extraction is gentle — Avril favours elegance over extraction, seeking finesse rather than power. Each lot macerates for 15–20 days before being pressed and transferred to large oak foudres for élevage, where the wine develops complexity without oak domination.

The wine matures for approximately 24 months in neutral foudres and demi-muids, allowing the terroir and fruit character to shine while achieving structural integration and aromatic harmony. Avril blends the various parcels during élevage, constantly tasting and adjusting to craft a seamless final wine. Bottling occurs without fining or filtration, preserving the wine’s full texture and aromatic integrity — a commitment to authenticity that defines Clos des Papes’ benchmark style.

Vintage Character

2016 — Classic Structure Meets Solar Generosity

The 2016 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is widely celebrated as a classic year combining power, elegance, and remarkable freshness — a trio rarely achieved in the southern Rhône. Following a mild winter and wet spring, summer brought sustained warmth without extreme heat spikes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly while retaining natural acidity. September’s cooler nights preserved aromatic precision, resulting in wines of exceptional balance, vibrant fruit, and impressive aging potential — many critics rank 2016 alongside the legendary 2010 and 2007 vintages.

For Clos des Papes, 2016 yielded a wine of remarkable depth and energy: concentrated yet fresh, powerful yet refined, with perfectly ripe tannins and striking aromatic complexity. The vintage’s natural acidity provides a structural backbone that promises decades of evolution, while the solar warmth ensures richness and generosity. In magnum format, this 2016 will develop even more gracefully, offering collectors a wine that will peak between 2026 and 2040.

Tasting Notes

A Symphony of Southern Rhône

The 2016 Clos des Papes opens with beguiling aromatics: black cherry, crushed raspberry, and wild strawberry mingle with garrigue herbs, lavender, black olive tapenade, and a whisper of truffle and woodsmoke. On the palate, the wine reveals extraordinary depth and energy — layers of dark berry fruit, kirsch, and plum are framed by supple yet structured tannins and vibrant acidity that lifts the mid-palate. Hints of liquorice, cracked pepper, iron, and Mediterranean scrub emerge on the long, savoury finish, which carries effortlessly for a full minute. This is Châteauneuf-du-Pape of classical proportions: powerful yet graceful, rich yet precise, built for the long haul while offering immediate pleasure to the patient taster.

Critics’ Scores

International Acclaim

The 2016 Clos des Papes has garnered outstanding reviews from the world’s most respected critics. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 97 points, praising its “incredible purity, elegance, and classic structure.” The Wine Advocate rated it 96 points, calling it “one of the wines of the vintage” with “magnificent balance and enormous aging potential.” Vinous scored it 96 points, noting its “seamless integration and aristocratic bearing.” These exceptional scores reflect not only the quality of the 2016 vintage but also Paul-Vincent Avril’s mastery in crafting Châteauneuf of timeless character and benchmark typicity.

Service & Pairing

At the Table