Chateau Sixtine Chateauneuf Du Pape 2018

Drink now or cellar for up to 9 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

The Diffonty family who own Chateau Sixtine are one of the Southern Rhone’s oldest winemaking families with roots here that go back to 1673. Until the beginning of the 20th century the family sold their grapes on to local merchants, but in 1902 they began bottling their own wines and selling them directly from their winery. Over the years the family has played a key role in the local Chateauneuf du Pape producers’ associations.

In total the estate has 22.4 hectares of vineyards including some very old Grenache planted back in 1905. Their classic Chateau Sixtine Chateauneuf du Pape is predominantly made from Grenache along with a smaller proportion of Syrah and Mourvedre planted on a wide variety of soil types. The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel vats before maturing in a mixture of tanks and oak barrels.

The result is an excellent value Chateauneuf du Pape which punches high above its price point in terms of ageability and complexity. The well-built structure, full body and firm tannins makes it a great choice for extended cellaring, or it can be enjoyed now with hearty red meat or tomato-based dishes thanks to the powerful dark fruit flavours.