Clos des Papes 2016 magnum Chateauneuf du Pape

Critics’ Scores

Universal Acclaim for Clos des Papes 2016

The 2016 vintage received extraordinary recognition from the world’s most influential wine critics, cementing its status as one of the estate’s greatest achievements. Jeb Dunnuck awarded a perfect 100 points, praising the wine’s seamless integration of power and finesse. Decanter followed with 98 points, while Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate scored it 97+ points, indicating exceptional quality and potential. Wine-Searcher’s aggregate critics score of 96 points reflects the unanimous admiration this vintage commands across the critical spectrum. Such accolades are rare, moreover confirming that this wine represents not merely excellence but true greatness in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Estate

Clos des Papes 2016 — An Icon of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Clos des Papes stands among the most celebrated estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a benchmark producer revered by critics and collectors worldwide. Led by vigneron Paul-Vincent Avril, this family domaine has cultivated its parcels across the appellation for generations, moreover crafting wines that marry power with elegance in a distinctly refined style. The Avril family’s meticulous attention to viticulture and traditional winemaking methods has earned Clos des Papes an unshakeable reputation as one of the southern Rhône’s finest addresses.

Indeed, the estate’s flagship red consistently ranks alongside the region’s elite cuvées, offering extraordinary depth and ageing potential. The 2016 vintage represents one of the domaine’s crowning achievements, furthermore receiving perfect and near-perfect scores from the world’s most discerning critics. This magnum format offers collectors not only the prestige of a legendary producer but also the enhanced ageing potential that larger bottles provide.

This Lot

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

Terroir & Grapes

The Classic Châteauneuf Blend

Clos des Papes draws fruit from carefully tended parcels scattered across Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where ancient vines root deeply into the appellation’s signature galets roulés—those rounded river stones that absorb summer heat and reflect it back onto ripening grapes. These stones, alongside sandy and clay soils, create the complex terroir that distinguishes this celebrated appellation in France’s southern Rhône Valley. The estate’s meticulous vineyard management ensures balanced yields and optimal ripeness, while maintaining the freshness that defines their elegant house style.

The blend honours Châteauneuf tradition while emphasizing structure and longevity. Grenache provides the wine’s core of ripe fruit and generous body, whereas Mourvèdre contributes firm tannins and savoury complexity. Syrah, meanwhile, adds aromatic lift and a darker fruit profile that rounds out this harmonious assemblage.

Vinification & Ageing

Traditional Élevage in Old Foudres

The Avril family employs time-honoured winemaking methods that respect both fruit and terroir. Following careful hand-harvesting, the estate ferments each parcel separately to preserve individual character, subsequently blending the components to achieve perfect harmony. Unlike many modern producers who favour new oak, Clos des Papes ages its wines entirely in large, neutral foudres—ancient wooden vats that allow gradual maturation without imposing oaky flavours. This approach permits the wine’s inherent complexity to shine through, moreover preserving the distinctive garrigue aromatics and mineral nuances that define great Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The extended élevage in these old foudres gently integrates tannins while maintaining remarkable freshness. This patient approach yields wines of extraordinary refinement, balancing power with elegance in a manner few southern Rhône estates achieve. The result is a wine built for the cellar yet accessible enough to enjoy in its youth.

Vintage Character

2016 — An Exceptional Southern Rhône Vintage

The 2016 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape ranks among the finest of recent memory, combining ideal ripeness with remarkable freshness. A warm, dry growing season allowed grapes to reach full phenolic maturity, while cooler nights preserved vibrant acidity and aromatic complexity. Consequently, the wines display extraordinary concentration alongside an almost paradoxical sense of lift and energy. Critics universally praised 2016 as a benchmark year for the southern Rhône, with wines showing exceptional balance and longevity potential.

Indeed, Clos des Papes 2016 embodies all the vintage’s celebrated qualities. The wine achieves profound intensity and full-bodied richness without heaviness, furthermore revealing ultra-fine tannins and a silky texture that belie the wine’s power. This vintage offers both immediate appeal and the structure necessary for decades of cellaring, thus representing an ideal acquisition for discerning collectors.

Tasting Notes

Profound Depth Meets Silky Elegance

The wine opens with a deep purple hue that hints at its concentration. On the nose, layers of kirsch liqueur, blackcurrant, and wild blueberry intertwine with classic garrigue aromatics—lavender, thyme, and dried herbs—alongside exotic Asian spices that add intrigue. The palate reveals extraordinary depth and power, yet the wine glides across the tongue with remarkable finesse. Concentrated cherry and raspberry fruit mingles with anise, graphite, and subtle mineral notes, while ultra-fine tannins provide structure without austerity. Despite its full body and intensity, the wine maintains an elegant, almost weightless quality that defines the Clos des Papes style. The finish extends for minutes, leaving echoes of ripe fruit, garrigue, and stony minerality.

“Full-bodied but balanced, with plenty of richness and concentration yet a certain paradoxical lightness, offering complex garrigue and anise notes, a silky texture, and tannins that are extremely fine and already very supple.”

Service & Pairing

Serving This Collector’s Magnum

While approachable now for those eager to experience its extraordinary quality, this wine will reward patient cellaring for two decades or more. Decant generously to unlock the wine’s full aromatic complexity, allowing it to breathe in a large-bowled glass that captures its nuanced bouquet. The wine’s remarkable balance and silky tannins make it versatile at table, pairing beautifully with Provençal daube, herb-crusted lamb, wild game such as venison or boar, and mature cheeses. Moreover, the magnum format makes this an ideal centrepiece for special occasions, offering not only enhanced ageing potential but also the ability to share this legendary wine with a larger gathering of fortunate guests.

— Discover —

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