Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine Chante Cigale

Tasting Note

This wine has lots of warm black fruit and plum aromas, with cinnamon, spices, pepper and a hint of vanilla. The palate is concentrated with damsons, red fruit, spice and stony minerality with a very elegant and warm finish. The mouth is initially very silky but gives way to some mouth watering acidity and firm tannins.

Producer Details

Domaine Chante Cigale, located within the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, has been owned and operated by the Sabon Favier family for several generations. Consisting of 102 acres of land classified Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the wines produced from this Domaine can be considered as classic, well made, reasonably priced Châteauneufs. Recently Christian Favier the father released the reins to his son, Alexandre, who is fast becoming a new rising star of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Despite only being in his early 20's he has been lauded by notable journalists Steve Danzier in the US and Jancis Robinson, UK. Despite Chateauneuf being known for its red wine production, the area also crafts award winning white wines. The Domaine Chante Cigale produces 5 times more white wine than the other producers in Châteauneuf and it's Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc has won several gold medals in Orange and Paris.

In The Vineyard

The soils of the vineyard are made up of clay and chalk covered with a layer of the classic large pebbles ('galets') found in this area, which naturally keep yields low. The vines are over 45 years old and situated near the plateau de Carbières (close to Château Montredon). Harvesting is by hand, with selective sorting of the grapes.

In The Winery

The grapes undergo a traditional long 'cuvaison' at quite high temperature and with extended maceration on the skins (25-28 days to extract plenty of colour, fruit and tannins. This is followed by ageing for between 14-18 months in 'foudre' (large oak barrels), with 10% in new barrels and 30% in concrete vats.

Food Recommendations

Try with traditional lamb or lentil and vegetable moussaka, and any rich hot-pot that heavily features 'herbes de Provence' or similar aromatic herbs.

Awards & Press

2007 Vintage: Decanter Wine Awards 2011 - Silver
2007 Vintage: Sommelier Wine Awards 2011 - Silver
2006 Vintage: Decanter World Wines Awards 2009 - Bronze
2009 Vintage: "A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre and other varietals ... is a round, generously endowed, corpulent effort with lots of garrigue, pepper, smoked meat, kirsch and raspberry fruit notes. This full-bodied, silky smooth, sexy Châteauneuf can be drunk over the next decade." 91 points. Wine Advocate, 31st October 2011
2007 Vintage: "Provençal herbs. High-toned fruit with spices and a little evolution. Quite hot alcohol but with several layers of herbs and spice flavours." Decanter
'The Results' edition, October 2011
2007 Vintage: "Beef stock, game, soot, dark fruit. Fine integration with tannins. Sweet and jammy, harmoniously assembled. 15.2/20." Simon Field MW, Decanter, March 2010
2007 Vintage: "Plenty of black fruit and garrigue notes on the nose lead to a palate of the same, with soft tannins, liquorice plus a shot of minerality at the end. 'Good finish,' said a happy Laurent Chaniac." Sommelier Wine Awards 2011, Judges Comments
2005 Vintage: "Dense ruby/purple with notes of liquorice, incense, tar, black cherry and blackberry, this is a rich, full-bodied wine with plenty of power, moderately high tannins, good underlying acidity and terrific delineation and length. This is an impressive Châteauneuf-du-Pape but not one to drink in its exuburant youth. Anticipated maturity 2008-2020."
90-93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 169, 2007)
2005 Vintage: "Herby perfumed nose. Quite attractive with good black fruits and liquorice. Ripe, round, sweet palate. Deep ripe tannins. From 2010. 3 Stars."
2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Panel Tasting - Decanter May 2008