Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Closerie de Vaudieu 2023

Closerie de Vaudieu is a cuvée made for early drinking and maybe a touch lighter than some Châteauneufs, but nevertheless this is a complex, very drinkable and mature beyond its years. It's been one of the stalwarts of our list for many years in no small way because of its popularity and great value for money. Ripe red berry and spice flavours dominate and are complemented by hints of liquorice and black pepper aromas. It's suitably full bodied and the ripe tannins nicely support the cassis and herb character on the finish.

Match it up with hearty red meat dishes like stews, or rich casseroles.

The 18th century Château de Vaudieu in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is owned by brothers Laurent and Julien Bréchet and has been in their family for over 50 years. The name 'Vaudieu' originates from the Vallée de Dieu, or 'Valley of God', a reference to the beauty of the area. Vaudieu has 70 hectares of vineyards in total, of which 60 hectares are planted with red varieties on prized sites that are located just east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, neighbouring the vineyards of the famed Château Rayas. The soils vary greatly - from sandy beds to raised terraces of the famous pudding stones (galets roulés) to calcareous hillsides - and offer huge potential for complexity in the wines.