Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021 1.5L +14%

The Paul Avril Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021 in 1.5L Magnum format is a highly regarded red wine from one of the top producers in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in France's Southern Rhône Valley. Clos des Papes, run by Paul-Vincent Avril (often referred to as Paul Avril in listings), is renowned for its elegant, balanced, and age-worthy style—focusing on poise, finesse, and organic farming across diverse vineyard plots.

Vintage Overview (2021)

The 2021 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape was challenging due to weather issues like hail, resulting in lower yields (around 18 hl/ha at Clos des Papes). The estate's blend for this year emphasizes more Grenache than usual: approximately 58% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, and 5% other permitted varieties (from up to 14 grapes total, all organically farmed and 100% destemmed). Alcohol is about 15.1%, but it remains balanced without noticeable heat.

Critics praise it as elegant, refined, and one of the standout wines of the vintage, with excellent freshness, silky tannins, and strong aging potential (15+ years, drink from around 2024–2036 or longer).

Key Tasting Notes and Scores

• Aromas: Red and black fruits (cherries, raspberries, kirsch, black raspberries), dried herbs, white pepper, crushed rocks/minerals, flowers (violets, lilacs), licorice, incense, spices, and underbrush.
• Palate: Medium to full-bodied, poised, and graceful with concentration, uplifting aromatics, supple/silky tannins, bright acidity, and a long, peppery, ethereal finish. It's wonderfully textured, balanced, and vibrant—less opulent than warmer vintages like 2019 or 2020 but more elegant and approachable relatively early.
• Scores: Commonly in the mid-90s, including 96 from Wine Advocate (WA) and Wine Spectator (WS), 95 from Jeb Dunnuck (JD) and others, with notes calling it "gorgeous," "stunning," and "one of the wines of the vintage."