Mordorée Reine Des Bois Châteauneuf-Du-Pape, 2020

Mordorée Reine des Bois Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 is a richly structured red that showcases the power and finesse of the Southern Rhône at its best. Crafted from Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah, it’s a deeply expressive, age-worthy wine that balances concentration with remarkable freshness. As one of the flagship cuvées of the estate, Reine des Bois has become a modern benchmark for ambitious, terroir-driven Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Reine des Bois reveals an intense, deep ruby color with purple reflexes at the rim, hinting at both youth and density. The nose is layered and complex: ripe black cherry, blackberry compote, and dark plum are intertwined with notes of garrigue (thyme, rosemary, and lavender), crushed violets, licorice, and subtle black pepper. Underneath the fruit, you’ll find hints of graphite, cocoa, and a gentle smokiness from well-judged oak. On the palate, this is full-bodied and structured yet impressively refined. Juicy black and red berry fruit is supported by firm but polished tannins and a vibrant, savory backbone. Flavors of black cherry, raspberry liqueur, and damson are joined by spice, dried herbs, and a touch of dark chocolate, leading to a long, persistent finish with mineral tension. The 2020 has the concentration to evolve beautifully over time; it is approachable now with a decant, but will reward cellaring for 10–15 years, gaining even more complexity and aromatic nuance.

Production
The grapes for Mordorée Reine des Bois Châteauneuf-du-Pape are sourced from some of the appellation’s prime terroirs, where old-vine Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah grow on a classic mix of galets roulés (large rounded stones), sandy soils, and limestone-clay. This mosaic of terroirs promotes low yields, excellent drainage, and natural concentration, while the Mediterranean climate, cooled by the Mistral wind, preserves freshness in the fruit. Harvesting is typically done by hand with rigorous sorting to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy bunches make it into the cuvée. In the cellar, the varieties are vinified with care to preserve purity and tension—often with a proportion of whole clusters to enhance aromatic lift and structure—followed by a lengthy maceration and aging in a combination of tanks and carefully selected barrels or larger oak vessels. The result is a wine that captures both the richness and the elegance that define top-tier Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Food & Serving
This 2020 Reine des Bois is an outstanding partner for robust, flavorful dishes such as herb-crusted lamb, slow-braised beef cheeks, duck confit, venison, or game birds with roasted root vegetables. It also pairs beautifully with Provencal-inspired cuisine—think daube de boeuf, grilled rosemary-infused meats, wild mushroom ragouts, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its aromatic complexity and textural depth. Decant for 1–2 hours in its youth to soften the tannins and open up the bouquet; older bottles (8+ years from vintage) may need a shorter, more gentle decant to remove sediment and allow the aromas to unfold.

Producer
Domaine de la Mordorée, the producer behind Reine des Bois, has built a reputation as one of the Rhône Valley’s most dynamic and quality-driven estates. Based in the Southern Rhône, the domaine is particularly renowned for its precision-crafted wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and neighboring appellations, where it has championed low yields, meticulous vineyard work, and sustainable practices. Over the years, Mordorée’s top cuvées—especially Reine des Bois—have garnered critical acclaim and high scores from leading wine publications, establishing the estate as a reference point for modern, yet classically rooted Rhône wines. Its commitment to expressing terroir, combined with an unrelenting focus on detail from vineyard to bottle, has made Mordorée a go-to name for collectors and enthusiasts seeking serious, age-worthy reds from Châteauneuf-du-Pape.