2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres

Cut from the same cloth as the Les Quartz, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Safres is based on 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre from sandy Safre soils in les Bédines, fully destemmed and aged 14 months in foudre. Ripe red berry fruits, crushed stone, flowers, and subtle spice all shine in the aromatics. It's medium-bodied, has a pure, focused, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length. I love its overall balance, and it's very much in the straight, clean, technical style of this estate today. There are roughly 1,916 cases produced. Drink 2025-2038. The Vacheron family, along with winemaker Bruno Gaspard, continues to make some of the region's finest wines. Located on the border of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Courthézon region, the estate is composed of 44 hectares in Côtes du Rhône and nine hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and releases a range of brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Papes as well as Côtes du Rhônes. Sylvie and Marilou Vacheron run the estate today. The Côtes du Rhône range includes Le Caillou, Le Bouquet des Garrigues, Les Quartz, and La Réserve, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape lineup includes Le Tradition (the entry-level cuvée made with the idea of early drinking), Les Safres (90% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre from sandy soils in les Bédines), Les Quartz (80% Grenache, 20% Syrah from les Cassanets with galets roulés and sandy Safre soils), and La Réserve (60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre from Pignan and Guigasse on sandy Safre soils). The wines are fully destemmed (there might be a touch of stems here and there) and aged in a mix of foudre, demi-muids, and neutral barrels. These are impeccably made wines that show remarkable purity and balance, yet I find the style here has become increasingly refined and elegant over the past few vintages, at times at the expense of personality and character.