I was gifted a bottle of the 2021 Jean XXII Reserve [Chateauneuf du Pape] some time ago, and opened it for a midweek glug. I didn’t know anything about this, nor have any expectations, but was pleasantly surprised to the upside. Thanks to Google, I saw some comments from the Reverse Wine Snob blog, where they note this is most likely from Ch. Fargueirol and vinified/marketed by Vignobles & Compagnie, a Rhone negociant. Although the label doesn’t disclose, that site thinks it’s an 80/20 mix of grenache/syrah, raised in stainless. From tasting, I would concur as I don’t pick up the cream/vanilla of wood, nor the savory/olive/meat that some syrah dominant blends might show; although in this AOC, I’m hard pressed to of any syrah driven CNDPs. Overall, this spicy blend is very tasty in a commercial/popular way. It is not trying to be a sweaty Pegau or a bottling that offers two decades of ageability/complexity like VT. There is no funk or barnyard here, just lots of spicy red fruit, with a decent finish and balance between the palate elements. I would totally drink this again, and if traveling, and was looking for a Rhone, this seems like a safe bet. I’d slot this into the B+ zone on my card, noting that perhaps it’s better young even though I normally like bottle age on everything from this region, even at the Cotes du Rhone level. Also, relative to the most vocal WB posters who enforce the orthodoxy here, I’m more accepting of Buyers Own Brands / Private Labels / special lots than others might be. Whether it’s Kirkland Signature, Kalinda, Corti Bros, or (old) Cameron Hughes etc. I have found that whole segment to offer lots of firepower for the money to the knowledgeable consumer, when market conditions cooperate.
PS: I almost forgot to mention…the most curious aspect to me was that this was closed with DIAM1. I don’t see that much in my market’s Rhone selections.