The 2020 Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, a proprietary blend from the Southern Rhone's esteemed Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, is a red wine that has garnered significant praise from various wine reviewers. Produced by Domaine de Marcoux, this wine is noted for its impressive depth and precision.
Decanter awarded this wine a score of 97, highlighting its "impressive depth of colour for the vintage" and describing it as "extremely round, fresh, clear and well-defined." The review mentions the wine's strict yet ripe tannins and its overall balance and precision. The wine is made from 120-year-old vines planted on north-facing clay and sand lieux-dits of Charbonnières and Esquières, fermented in concrete, and aged in foudre.
Jeb Dunnuck also gave the wine a high score of 97, calling it "one of the world’s greatest expressions of Grenache year-in and year-out." He described it as concentrated and medium to full-bodied, with "ripe cherry and darker berry fruits, notes of ground pepper, garrigue, and licorice." Dunnuck emphasizes its powerful yet elegant nature and suggests that it will offer "incredible pleasure over its lengthy life," recommending a drinking window from 2023 to 2043.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com rated it 95 points, praising its "purity, refinement, elegance, and freshness." He noted the vibrant kirsch and peppery accents that contribute to a long, lifted, and fresh finish. Leve mentions that the wine is made from low-yielding, 100% old vine Grenache.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate stands out with a near-perfect score of 99, citing the wine's bold black-cherry fruit that delivers a powerful impact. The review describes it as full-bodied with increasing intensity and complexity, merging notes of raspberries, star anise, and garrigue into a supple, velvety texture.
Vinous also rated the wine 97 points, describing it as a "towering effort" with aromas of crème de cassis, raspberry jam, black plum, and exotic spices. The review highlights the wine's full-bodied nature and velvety tannins, attributing its poise and tension to the use of 3,000-liter Austrian oak barrels.
Lastly, Wine Spectator gave the wine 95 points, noting its "power and concentration" with flavors of black fig and currant, accented by graphite, smoke, and charred aniseed. The review praises its framework and salinity, suggesting it will be best enjoyed from 2024 through 2035.
Overall, the 2020 Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a critically acclaimed wine known for its precision, balance, and complex flavor profile.