97pts Jeb Dunnuck

Also a true gem of a wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes includes all three terroirs of Charbonnière, Esqueirons and Galimardes and is all Grenache. It’s a ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy wine that’s just about overflowing with notes of raspberries, blueberries, Provençal herbs, violets, and flowers. It’s a big, exuberant Grenache offering sweet tannins, a broad, mouth-filling texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following two decades.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Marcoux's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is full-bodied, dense and tannic. Hints of crushed stone and dried garrigue appear on the nose, alongside blackberries and black cherries. It's basically pure foudre-aged Grenache from two lieux-dits—Charbonnières and les Esquierons—although the old vines undoubtedly include the odd interplanted variety. This terrific wine finishes long and silky, with layers of unfolding fruit and spice, including a dash of salted licorice. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. The 2021 harvest had just finished when I arrived at Domaine Marcoux on the afternoon of October 2nd. I was greeted by Vincent Estevenin and his mother, Sophie Armenier. It was a relatively late vintage, punctuated by occasional rainfalls, so they were relieved to be done picking. The family's vineyards have been certified organic since 1991—among the first in the region. They work according to biodynamic principles but have never been certified in that regard.

97pts Vinous

Saturated ruby. A heady, impressively complex bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, candied flowers, garrigue and incense, along with exotic spice and mineral notes that build with air. Utterly stains the palate with vibrant raspberry liqueur, cherry cola, licorice and fruitcake flavors that are sharpened by a jolt of spiciness on the back half. Polished tannins add gentle grip to the strikingly long, floral-dominated finish, which shows no rough edges. 

97pts Wine Enthusiast

Old vines of Grenache, averaging 55 to 110 years of age, distinguish this ripe yet nuanced wine. Matured 18 months in neutral oak, it offers black-plum and preserved raspberry flavors that are richly concentrated but pure. Speckled with hints of licorice and smoke, it’s a feathery, sumptuous sip with a long, lifted finish. Approachable young, the wine should improve well past 2040. 

97pts Wine Spectator

This is marked by a gorgeously pure core of kirsch and raspberry reduction flavors, which are laced with rooibos tea, singed balsam wood, dried anise, garrigue and warm stone notes. Extremely long, with a singular focal point to the finish as everything is pulled together by finely beaded acidity. A terrific wine. Best from 2025 through 2040. 

96pts Decanter

Touch of liquorice behind the damson and plum fruit. This has searing intensity, very high acidity with fine tannins and a good internal framework. The alcohol is high, but the other elements are even more prominent. Very long. 3,900 bottles made. 120-year-old vines planted on north-facing clay and sand lieux-dits of Charbonnières and Esquières. Fermented in concrete, aged in foudre. Drinking Window 2027 - 2045.

93pts James Suckling

Fascinating nose of black fruit, pomegranate, licorice and dried lemon zest. Very rich, deep and concentrated with a striking combination of sweetness and freshness through the long, energetic finish. Slight warmth from alcohol (16%) at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

About the Winery

Domaine de Marcoux was a pioneer in organic and biodynamic farming long before it was fashionable which is now overseen by Catherine with assistance from Sophie’s son Vincent. They farm about 18 ha in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 8 ha in Lirac, and a little over 2 ha just north of Châteauneuf where they make a lovely and nuanced Côtes-du-Rhône. There is a wide range of soil types from sandy soils in Charbonnières, to red clay and galets in L’Arnesque and Les Bouquets, to limestone and marl in Les Esquirons and Beaurenard, to red clay and gravel in Gallimardes, Les Serres, La Crau, and Les Plagnes. They grow primarily Grenache, with an average vine age of 50 years old, with smaller
amounts of Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Grenache Blanc.

The Vieilles Vignes, a cuvée made entirely from old-vine Grenache, made in vintages where the Grenache is abundant, rich and complex. It is sourced from the sandy soils of Charbonnières (planted 1900) the limestone marl of Esquierons (planted 1900/1949) and the gravelly red clay of Gallimardes (planted 1934/1959). It is aged entirely in 350L barrels for 18 months. 

Grape Varietal: Grenache

Organic

Biodynamic