The 2016 Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf du Pape L'Avenue is a notable wine from the Rhone region in France, crafted entirely from Grenache grapes. This red wine is characterized by its deep color and robust structure, with an alcohol content of 15%. It is sourced from a single parcel near the estate and aged for 18 months in demi-muids, a type of oak barrel, which imparts a unique profile to the wine.
Jeb Dunnuck awards this wine an exceptional score of 97+, highlighting its "huge perfume of black raspberries, blackberries, dried flowers," and mentions its "powerful, concentrated" nature with "incredible purity of fruit" (jebdunnuck.com, 8/28/2018). This sentiment is echoed by Wine Enthusiast, which also scores the wine a 97, noting its "baked black cherries and blueberries" alongside "leather, toast and spice," describing it as "rich" and "decadent" (Wine Enthusiast, 12/31/2019).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator both rate the wine at 96, with Robert Parker's Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski praising its "full-bodied, plush" quality, calling it a "velvety, intense, long and layered" wine (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 9/1/2018). Wine Spectator admires its "gorgeous core of crushed plum, boysenberry, and blackberry" flavors, with a finish that benefits from "graphite edge" and "black tea hint" (Wine Spectator, 10/31/2018).
Jeff Leve gives the highest praise, scoring it 98, and noting its "silky, elegant, fresh, sweet, ripe, pure kirsch notes" and "layers of sweet, fruits, depth, purity, and freshness" (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 9/15/2018).
Overall, the 2016 Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf du Pape L'Avenue is a standout wine celebrated for its complexity, depth, and aging potential.