Châteauneuf-du-Pape Clos des Papes - Paul Avril 1999

This family-run estate has been firmly established in local history since the 17th century, when the vineyard, then associated with the papal château, was cultivated by the ancestors of the Avril family. In 1896, Paul-Eugène Avril first marketed a wine under the name Clos des Papes, thereby establishing a tradition of meticulous winemaking and prestige that continues to this day. This estate was one of the pioneers of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Le Clos des Papes is now run by Paul-Vincent Avril, who perpetuates the family’s savoir-faire.
Certified for organic winegrowing for over 15 years, the estate covers 34 hectares, divided into more than 20 plots with varied terroirs (galets roulés or rolled pebbles, sand, clay and limestone), offering a highly complex range of aromas. This mosaic of soil types lends the wines a rare purity, structure and depth, which the Avril family brings to the fore.
Le Clos des Papes produces just two wines: a red Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a white, both made from the 13 grape varieties authorised by the appellation, with Grenache predominating in the red and a harmonious blend of six varieties in the white. Carefully controlled yields and hand-harvesting reflect an ongoing quest for balance and finesse. The Clos des Papes wines are the epitome of age-worthy wines, combining power, freshness and elegance, and appealing to discerning wine lovers and collectors from around the world.

The traditional white Châteauneuf grape varieties come together here to produce a cuvée of charm. The colour hints at a beautiful creaminess. The bouquet is expressive, offering notes of white fruits and linden. On the palate the mellowness is delicately balanced with freshness; tasty quince and pear accents roam around the palate. A charming white wine.