In the spring of 2012, a few of us were traveling the Rhone Valley, visiting some of the estates we carry, tasting and eating north to Burgundy. We were all anticipating the tour/tasting/dinner at one of our
favorite Chateauneuf du Pape producers, Ch. Cabrieres. Vines have been planted in Chateauneuf for centuries, some back to the 1340’s and before.

Today Ch. de Cabrieres is owned by Patrick Vernier, who retains Phillippe Cambie, a well-regarded consultant in the Rhone, to work with him on the wines. The vines here are between 40 and 90 years old. The vineyards are, as is the case with all of the top wines from Chateauneuf, covered in a thick layer of stones, or galets. Vernier has about 60% Grenache (for structure, body, and alcohol) 15% Syrah (for fragrance and tannic structure) 15% Mourvedre (again for aromatice, and to help with ageing) and about 10% Cinsault (which adds a bit of style, elegance and fruit).

The tour and tasting were wonderful, and we tasted the Chateauneuf Blanc, Chateauneuf Rouge and Prestige from all three current vintages. Then on to dinner, in the barrel room, where we began with
ratatouille and salads, followed by a parade of local meats and other animal parts which, although I cannot name all these parts, I certainly ate them. We washed them down with multiple older vintages of both the Chateauneuf and Cuvee Prestige.

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor. Follow Shayne on Twitter: @ABCwineshayne