Why is it that Châteauneuf-du-Pape is so well known? Even non-drinkers can tell you it’s the name of a great wine. Its celebrity is built on centuries of impressive quality, but there are a number of other contributing factors: the papal seal of approval, a long history of exporting, and the fact that the name of the appellation tells its story.
The best wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape deserve this renown. But with an appellation spread over 3,200ha, inevitably there are some wines which simply aren’t that interesting, trading on a famous name rather than intrinsic quality.
Châteauneuf isn’t cheap: it’s almost impossible to buy a bottle for less than £20 today in UK retail. So if you’re on a budget, you need to step carefully. But it is still possible to find excellent wines under £40 per bottle – I even found a few under £30.
Scroll down for Matt Walls’ pick of 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try
{“content”:”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”}
Matt Walls’ pick of 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try:
{}
{“wineId”:”74093″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74094″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74095″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74097″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”64346″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74096″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74098″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74099″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74100″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74101″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”64352″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74102″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74103″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74104″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74105″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74106″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74107″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”62509″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74108″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74109″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”34273″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74110″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74111″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”64494″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74112″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{“wineId”:”74113″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}
{}
Related articles
The post Walls: 26 value Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to try appeared first on Decanter .