2022 Domaine du Banneret - Chateauneuf du Pape (750ml)

One of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's best-kept secrets. Domaine du Banneret has always offered a distinctly Burgundian expression of the appellation — paler than most, never pushing for maximum ripeness or concentration, but faithful to terroir and vintage in a way few producers manage. Now in the hands of Audrey Vidal, the estate continues its founding philosophy: all 13 permitted grape varieties co-planted, aged in used barrels for nearly two years, resulting in a wine of elegance and freshness.  With only 13,000 bottles produced each year, this is about as under-the-radar as Châteauneuf gets. 

The 2022 opens with a superb perfume of black cherries, blackberries, savory garrigue, and Provençal spices. Silky and elegant on the palate, with extremely fine tannins and a long, satisfying finish — never the most powerful wine of a vintage, but shining with balance, nuance, and harmonious texture. Drink over the next 15 years.

2022 is a very good vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, clearly surpassing 2021 for reds — and Banneret's restrained, classic style is tailor-made for a year like this