Chateauneuf du pape colombis 2019 (Domaine St Prefert)

Drink now or cellar for up to 20 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Domaine St Prefert dates back to the 1920s when Fernand Serre bought 80 hectares of land here, soon earning a respected reputation for making top quality Chateauneuf-du-Pape which were some of the first local wines to be exported to the US. More recently the property was purchased by Isabel Ferrando who left behind a career in banking to become a winemaker. Over the years Isabel has bought up prized vineyards in Chateauneuf-du-Pape to expand the domaine and has also embraced biodynamic agriculture throughout the property. Colombia is one of their iconic wines which is made in tiny quantities from 60-year Grenache old vines planted on three different parcels. One in the winery the grapes are fermented as whole clusters and then aged in neutral demi-muid barrels for 18 months. Thanks to the well-draining sandy soils, this is a powerful yet balanced Chateauneuf-du-Pape that opens with enticing notes of strawberries, cherries, lavender and fragrant incense. On the palate there’s a robust full body, firm tannins, and a long finish seasoned with woodsmoke, leather, and spice. A robust Grenache that will continue to develop over the next decade or so in the cellar, although it can also be enjoyed now alongside hearty red meat dishes.