Domaine Jean Royer - Châteauneuf du Pape
Jean-Marie Royer inherited his vines in 1985, and set about improving the grape varietal mix and the vinification from then. Since more than half of the domaine is in unclassified ('Vin de Table') or 'Côtes du Rhône, he has developed a marque'Le Petit Roy', sold as Vin de Table' for everything that does not make it into the Châteaneuf cuvées. The Petit Roy has been a big hit in the shops and as a website wine of the week recently. His Châteauneufs are just gorgeous, and in the context of some of the Parkerised dottiness going on, offer refreshingly fantastic value for money. He has undoubtedly been much helped his close friend the star oenologist Philippe Cambié, who he went to school with and also played rugby with for many years, (although I would not want to see him try to play rugby with Philippe now in case he got sat on. Jean-Marie is a comparative titch - and M. Cambié is not).
2010 CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE Tradition Domaine Jean Royer
75cl bottles, case of 12
Bright, and astonishly fresh. Quite a cool feel (really) and then it fills out nicely. Lovely layered complexity of ripe fruit and bosky notes, but above all it is its frank openness of expressionBright, and astonishly fresh. Quite a cool feel (really) and then it fills out nicely. Lovely layered complexity of ripe fruit and bosky notes, but above all it is its frank openness of expression which appeals. Juicy. 80% Grenache, with 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 5% old Cinsault vines from his parcel in the Crau.L&S (May 2012)
2010 CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE Prestige Domaine Jean Royer
75cl bottles, case of 12
100% Grenache. A much more solid, beefy style than Jean-Marie's 'Tradition', seriously complex and full of potential. The same expressive fruit is here, combined with a rich, savoury density and100% Grenache. A much more solid, beefy style than Jean-Marie's 'Tradition', seriously complex and full of potential. The same expressive fruit is here, combined with a rich, savoury density and powerful length.L&S (May 2012)
2010 CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE Les Sables de la Crau Domaine Jean Royer
75cl bottles, case of 6
Jean-Marie Royer was thrilled to be able to do a deal to get his hands on this parcel of vines on the sand of the part of Chateauneuf called la Crau, the same terroir as Rayas. he is looking for theJean-Marie Royer was thrilled to be able to do a deal to get his hands on this parcel of vines on the sand of the part of Chateauneuf called la Crau, the same terroir as Rayas. he is looking for the supremely elegant expression of Grenache this this terroir can produce. Supple, silk-velvet purity, some dusty points of subtle dryness, powerful, already complex, the fruit dominating any hint of oak (it is aged in second-hand demi-muids he gets from Domaine Liger-Belair in Burgundy). Fabulous and very rare (UK allocation 36 bots!).L&S (May 2012)