Wine Spectator 93
“ Marries generous cherry, damson plum and cassis with warm earth, savory smoke and sweet baking spices. Friendly and open on the palate at first, with fine-grained tannins and cast iron minerality holding everything in check. Reveals a fine dusting of pepper and leather on the long finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. —J.M.”


Tasting Notes
"This is tight and grippy, but has a live wire of racy iron-edged minerality spreading out from the core, providing a matrix for the myriad of plum reduction, cherry paste, red licorice, sweet bay, lavender, cassis bush and juniper notes to build off of. A wild brambly feel drives the finish. Distinctive and should provide plenty intrigue as it ages."

The Wine
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah 5% Mourvdre, 5% Cinsault
Owner and winemaker Claude Courtil is the godson of Henri Bonneau
He was an apprentice to Bonneau before taking over Brusquieres
70+ year old vines, indigenous yeasts, unfined and unfiltered
Aged in a combination of cement and demi-muids

The Estate
At only eight hectares in size, this miniscule, ultra-traditional estate produces tiny quantities of just one wine: no luxury cuve, no specialty blend, just a stunningly pure and complex Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Owner Claude Courtil is the godson of none other than Henri Bonneau, one of the most legendary and revered producers in the region, and he learned everything he knows about winemaking from his godfather. Henri and Claude share a deeply held commitment to natural winemaking: manual vineyard work, traditional aging in large foudres, and bottling without intrusive fining and filtration. With incredibly old vines that average 60 years old, this is truly a special domaine, and one that is extremely deserving of your attention.

Farming Practice
Sustainable