2021 Domaine Galévan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Rouge, Southern Rhône Valley, France.
All new to me, Domaine Galévan was originally founded back in 1836 by Jean-François Goumarre and It has been in the same family now for more than 180 years, and I was excited to try their latest Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge at a recent tasting with their importer H. Mecer, where it made quite an impression, in a good way. Prior to 1995, the grapes here at Galévan were sold off to a local co-op, with the main production being basic Côtes-du-Rhône, but they have 2 hectares in the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape zone, where this beautiful and opulent wine was born. The deeply hued purple/garnet 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, made from 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre is powerfully rich, sultry with a fine earthy authentic element, dark fruited, spiced and impressive in mouth feel impact. Interestingly, tried Coravin, this wine did not fully come alive and didn’t reveal its full potential in the glass, while the open bottle was gorgeous and expressive with a seductive layering of boysenberry, plum, candied cherry, mulberry, mix berry coulis and black fig fruits, along with mocha, creme de cassis, salted licorice, raw peppercorns, lovely crushed flowers, chalky loam, sandalwood and a touch of meatiness. The tannins are well covered up, there’s some lift from acidity, the wood is well judged and there’s that certain Châteauneuf-du-Pape thrill, opulence and presence that really pleases the palate here and it should be enjoyed with a full hearty meal. The Galévan Châteauneuf-du-Pape (about 14.5% alcohol) has lots to admire and it lingers on and on with a ton of fruit as well as grilled herbs and lavender, it went nicely with marinaded pork mole and beef street tacos, but I’m sure it will be best with roast lamb and or hard cheeses.
Winemaker Coralie Galévan, according to her importer H. Mercer Imports, is the first women in the nine generations of vignerons to run this small estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has taken this label to new heights, especially in recent years. Galévan is located in the commune of Courthézon and the estate covers 60 hectares across a few AOC and non official appellations and all the vines are farmed with organic agriculture. The Galévan vineyards are spread between Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône Village, Côtes du Rhône and Vin de Pays with all the usually suspects planted, including the classic Rhône grapes, but led by Grenache. Coralie Galévan, who’s put in technology, sustainable practices and still pays tribute to traditional and historic methods where needed to produce her collection of wines, from her Côtes du Rhône, the Châtauneuf red and white, a couple of special cuvée versions, to her unique Vin D’Pays, which includes a good dose of Cabernet Sauvignon, which I look forward to trying. For this Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Rouge, Galévan carefully selects and sorts her fruit in the vineyard and again in the cellar, crushing and de-stemming the Grenache and Mourvédre, which get picked and fermented separately in tank with temperature control. After primary fermentation and maceration to gently extract the full potential of the grapes the must is pressed and racked to Burgundy sized barriques, mostly used, where the wine ages 15 months before blending and being tank settled before bottling. The combination of 80% of Grenache and 20% Mourvédre works well here with the Grenache’s lush depth and the rustic leathery charm of the Mourvédre, that gives the structure and savoriness, all plays well to allow joy now and gives it plenty of rewarding age worthiness.
($68 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive