2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Domaine Versino

Jean-Paul Versino runs this small 13 hectare estate with great thought and care. He has the advantage of working with some very old Grenache (50-100 year old vines) and believes in non-interventionist winemaking. Yields are very low, and only the healthiest fruit is selected, with minimal or no sulphur is used during the winemaking. Ageing is long and slow in mostly old oak foudres. The wine is bottled unfiltered, having achieved stability in cask. This is an extraordinarily deep and complex wine, with layers of dark fruits and a sumptuous texture.

Hand harvested, the fruit is 90% whole bunch fermented using indigenous yeasts in concrete (70%) and steel tanks with one pump over per day to extract colour and flavour. After fermentation, the wine is racked into large old oak foudres for 2 years of maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Bright ruby coloured with amber tints, the nose is full of leathery aromas, spice, roasted herbs and cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate is very warming and generous, with notable spice, cooked cherries, pepper and hints of truffle. Full bodied and very complex, with full but very ripe tannins.

Rich meat and game casseroles. Chargrilled red meats. Mushroom dishes. Roasted vegetables.