Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône 2024
3.9 (164)
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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
- 14% ABV
- December 31, 2026
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, powerfulWine Food Pairings
Red meats (i.e. game, lamb), charcuterie, vegetarian stews, turkey, pork.Beyond the Label
Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l’Abbé is a refined expression of the Côtes-du-Rhône, crafted by award-winning winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty. The latest release is smooth and sumptuous, brimming with aromatic plum, cherry and strawberry.
The Diffonty family are one of the oldest winemaking dynasties in the southern Rhône, and wine critic Robert Parker is a long-time devotee of Cuvée du Vatican. In fact, theirs was the first case of Châteauneuf-du-Pape he ever bought—a wine 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.)
It’s a classic Rhône blend of Grenache and Syrah, left unoaked to allow all the juicy notes of ripe cherry and strawberry to shine through in your glass. You’ll also find 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––they’ll reward with a bit of patience. We love it with lamb or beef dishes.
Réserve de l’Abbé is your opportunity to taste the Diffonty family’s Rhône expertise in an approachable red. Jean-Marc is a stickler about quality and only makes limited amounts of this Réserve––get in now to secure your share.
