Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône 2023
3.8 (331)
Write a review
Long-time Cuvée du Vatican devotee Robert Parker raves that winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty is “doing a fabulous job.” Jean-Marc’s skills are on full display in his rich Réserve de l’Abbé, which brims with ripe red fruit and wild herb notes.
Wine Details
- Red - Full Bodied
- France
- Syrah-based blend
- 13.5% ABV
- December 31, 2029
Flavor Profile
Wine Flavor Profile
Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l’Abbé is a full-bodied red wine with heady, ripe cherry and strawberry aromas, plus notes of licorice and wild herbs. The palate is rich and round, with more red-fruit flavors and a long, powerful finish.Wine Food Pairings
Roast lamb, steak (esp. ribeye), game birds, venison, pork, vegetarian, aged cheeses.Beyond the Label
Robert Parker is a long-time devotee of Cuvée du Vatican (theirs was the first case of Châteauneuf-du-Pape he ever bought—a wine that’s largely credited with launching his decades-long career). The label’s also been a favorite of the papacy since 1958, when Pope John XXIII blessed Cuvée du Vatican. (They still send a case to Rome each year.)
Your taste of the estate is winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty’s Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l’Abbé Côtes-du-Rhône. And the elegant 2023 release is tasting better than ever.
It’s a classic Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, left unoaked to allow all the juicy notes of ripe cherry and strawberry to shine through in your glass. Also look for hints of licorice and wild herb, plus a long, smooth finish. Drinking deliciously now, but don’t be afraid to hide a few bottles away to enjoy over the next few years (we love it with lamb or beef dishes).
Monsieur Diffonty’s a stickler about quality, and only makes limited amounts of his Réserve de l’Abbé—get in now to secure your share.
