Wines Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Père Caboche - 2020

The 2020 Domaine Père Caboche Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a red wine that truly embodies the rich traditions of its prestigious appellation. Crafted predominantly from Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and small proportions of Cinsault and other permitted varieties, this vintage reflects the classic southern Rhône blend. The 2020 season was marked by a warm, dry growing period, yielding grapes with excellent ripeness and concentration. Vinification at Domaine Père Caboche honours both tradition and modern know-how, with careful fermentation to extract vibrant colour and supple tannins, followed by maturation that often combines both stainless steel and oak vats to express both fruit purity and subtle complexity.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits at the heart of the Southern Rhône valley, a region renowned for its Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot, sunny days and cooling mistral winds. The unique terroir here blends pebbly, rolled stones (galets roulés) with sandy, clay and limestone soils, allowing for excellent drainage and heat retention, encouraging even ripening and robust flavour concentration in the grapes. The region boasts a long and storied wine history, having been officially recognised as an appellation in 1936, but producing wines of note for centuries prior, often favoured by the Avignon popes.

Given its generous structure, ripe dark fruit, hints of garrigue, pepper and subtle earthy undertones, this Châteauneuf-du-Pape is ideal with hearty dishes. It pairs beautifully with Provençal classics such as rosemary roast lamb, daube de boeuf (beef stew), or even a cassoulet. More simply, it will complement grilled meats, game, or a selection of mature cheeses—think aged Comté, Beaufort, or even a well-truffled Brie.

For optimal enjoyment, serve at a slightly cool room temperature, ideally between 16-18°C. Decanting for about an hour before serving will help the expressive bouquet to open up and soften the youthful tannins. While drinking beautifully now, this 2020 vintage also has the structure to cellar for several more years, should you wish to allow it to develop greater finesse and complexity.