Chateau Maucoil Chateauneuf du Pape l'Esprit de Maucoil 2015

Drink now or cellar for up to 20 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

In the ancient Roman period Julius Caesar created a base for his army on the present-day site of Chateau Maucoil, and in 1624 the property was inherited by Joseph de la Pise who first began to make wine here. Today it is owned by the Arnaud family who are passionate about sustainable and organic agricultural practices including low impact methods like ploughing and furrowing to manage the soils.

L’Esprit de Maucoil is one of their top cuvees which is only produced during the finest vintages. Fruit is hand harvested from the chateau’s oldest vines with an average age of 70 years which include a mixture of the 13 varieties permitted in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. After vinification the young wine goes into oak barrels for 12-18 months depending on the vintage. The final step is to age the wine for a few more years in the bottle before release.

Fragrant notes of kirsch, cassis, ripe plum and dried violets immediately burst out of the glass, while the first sip reveals a punchy full body, firm tannins, and a solid core of dark fruit. The solid flavour profile means this is a great match for hearty dishes like beef stews, venison, or roasted meats. It’s also ideal to keep in the cellar for a few more years where it will continue to develop and evolve.