Wines Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château La Gardine - 1995

Viniou Reviews

Château La Gardine 1995 from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC in the southern Rhône is a wine of remarkable depth and character. This red is typically crafted from a blend dominated by Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and possibly small proportions of other permitted grapes such as Cinsault. The 1995 vintage was marked by a hot, dry summer, yielding grapes of exceptional concentration and ripeness. Traditional vinification methods are employed, with careful maceration and ageing, often in a combination of large oak foudres and smaller barrels, allowing the wine to develop its distinctive complexity and longevity. After almost three decades, you can expect a bouquet offering dried red and black fruits, leather, undergrowth, garrigue, spice and hints of liquorice, while the palate should display a silky texture, well-integrated tannins and notes of matured fruit, earth and savoury spice.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits in the heart of the southern Rhône Valley, a region celebrated for both its tradition and its diversity. The climate here is Mediterranean, with long hot summers and the influential mistral wind helping to keep vineyards healthy. The soils are a key component, with famous galets roulés—rounded stones—blanketing the vineyards, retaining heat during the day and releasing it at night to promote even ripening. The appellation itself boasts a rich winemaking history, tracing back to the Avignon papacy in the 14th century, and is renowned for its opulent, age-worthy reds.

With its richness and evolved complexity, this wine pairs wonderfully with robust dishes. Traditional southern French fare, such as slow-braised lamb shoulder with herbs de Provence, daube provençale, or venison stew, will beautifully highlight the wine’s depth. Truffled mushroom dishes or matured cheeses, particularly hard sheep’s cheese, will also prove harmonious.

For optimal enjoyment, decanting is highly recommended to allow the wine to breathe and fully express its tertiary aromas. Serve at 16-18°C. If well cellared, this 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is likely at its peak, displaying all the nuances of a great mature Rhône wine.