La Vieille Ferme Rouge Box
Chateauneuf du Pape translates to “new house of the Pope”, so named in honor of the 70 years of exile the Papacy spent outside of Rome beginning in 1308. Relocating to the town of Avignon in the southern Rhone Valley of France, Pope Clement V needed something tasty to drink (he was by birth a Bordeaux guy), and thus a new commitment to quality was born in the area. Located just north of Avignon, the Chateauneuf du Pape region represents the pinnacle of the blended red traditions of the southern Rhone. I mean pinnacle not only in terms of quality, but also in number of grapes allowed in the traditional blend. Thirteen, and not even all red ones mind you. Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvedre to be sure tilt the scales most heavily, but don’t forget Cinsault, Cunoise, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Vaccarese, and Picpoul Noir, plus Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Rousanne, Picardan, Clairette, and Bourboulenc (for those of you counting to fifteen at home, the red skinned and white skinned versions of Grenache and Picpoul only count as one variety each). You would hope that wines made from that much blending material would offer loads of complexity, and the best examples of Chateauneuf du Pape offer exactly that. Widely regarded as being full bodied and alcoholic, Chateauneuf du Pape actually comes in a wide variety of styles depending on the producer and the vintage. The best producers balance rich, ripe red fruit and gamey qualities with crisp acidity and fine tannins to make wines that offer great enjoyment both in the near and longer term.Chateauneuf du Pape translates to “new house of the Pope”, so named in honor of the 70 years of exile the Papacy spent outside of Rome beginning in 1308. Relocating to the town of Avignon in the southern Rhone Valley of France, Pope Clement V needed something tasty to drink (he was by birth a Bordeaux guy), and thus a new commitment to quality was born in the area. Located just north of Avignon, the Chateauneuf du Pape region represents the pinnacle of the blended red traditions of the southern Rhone. I mean pinnacle not only in terms of quality, but also in number of grapes allowed in the traditional blend. Thirteen, and not even all red ones mind you. Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvedre to be sure tilt the scales most heavily, but don’t forget Cinsault, Cunoise, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Vaccarese, and Picpoul Noir, plus Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Rousanne, Picardan, Clairette, and Bourboulenc (for those of you counting to fifteen at home, the red skinned and white skinned versions of Grenache and Picpoul only count as one variety each). You would hope that wines made from that much blending material would offer loads of complexity, and the best examples of Chateauneuf du Pape offer exactly that. Widely regarded as being full bodied and alcoholic, Chateauneuf du Pape actually comes in a wide variety of styles depending on the producer and the vintage. The best producers balance rich, ripe red fruit and gamey qualities with crisp acidity and fine tannins to make wines that offer great enjoyment both in the near and longer term.
Food Pairings
Steaks, pasta with meat sauces, sausages the spicier the better. Barbecued ribs or chicken. Burgers and brats.
Where to find this wine
Accounts that have purchased this wine in the previous twelve months are listed below, alphabetically by city. Please call ahead to confirm availability or vintage
Aitkin Liquor Store
Aitkin
218-927-6704
Top Ten Liquors - Andover
Andover
763-755-7775
Cash Wise Liquor - Baxter
Baxter
218-829-9286
Top Ten Liquors - Blaine
Blaine
763-754-3231
Cheers - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-941-0998
Perrier - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-826-6443
Mgm - West Bloomington
Bloomington
952-888-9421
Total Wine & More #1601 - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-835-6063
Oxendale's Wine & Spirits
Bloomington
952-756-8985
Total Wine & More #1603 - Burnsville
Burnsville
952-835-6063
Lunds & Byerlys - Burnsville
Burnsville
952-892-5600
Perrier - Burnsville
Burnsville
952-953-6269
Northbound Liquor - Cambridge
Cambridge
763-689-2468
Lunds & Byerlys - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
952-474-1298
Total Wine & More #1606 - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
952-934-6484
Top Ten Liquors - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
651-341-2142
Total Wine & More #1609 - Coon Rapids
Coon Rapids
Delano Wine & Spirits
Delano
763-972-0578
Mt Royal Bottle Shoppe
Duluth
218-728-6168
Cash Wise Liquor - Duluth
Duluth
218-722-4507
Super One Liquor - Duluth/central
Duluth
218-628-2169
Keyport Liquor
Duluth
218-724-8818
Premier Wine & Spirits
Eagan
651-452-7747
Total Wine & More #1607 - Eagan
Eagan
651-452-0499
Edina # 1 - 50th
Edina
612-903-5720
Lunds & Byerlys - Golden Valley
Golden Valley
763-544-8846
On The Rocks Wine & Spirits
Hugo
651-787-9480
Isanti Municipal Liquor
Isanti
763-444-5063
Village W&s - Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo
651-433-2221
Lakeville # 7 - Keokuk
Lakeville
952-985-4950
Liquor Barn
Long Lake
952-473-1817
Lakeside Wine & Spirits
Long Lake
952-475-2936
Lincoln Square Liquor Barrel
Mahtomedi
651-770-0692
Total Wine & More #1605 - Maple Grove
Maple Grove
763-488-3300
Top Ten Liquors - Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Fresh Thyme - Minneapolis
Minneapolis
651-846-0908
Underground Leaf And Vine
Minneapolis
612-213-2975
Central Ave Liquor
Minneapolis
612-781-3424
Stinson Wine, Beer & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-789-0678
1010 Washington Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-339-4040
Mcdonald Liquor Store
Minneapolis
612-721-6686
Sentyrz Liquor
Minneapolis
612-781-3484
Hennepin-lake Liquors
Minneapolis
612-825-4411
South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811
Zipp's
Minneapolis
612-333-8686
Ken And Norm's Liquors
Minneapolis
612-822-0030
Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits - Mpls
Minneapolis
612-384-2980
France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252
Falls Liquor
Minneapolis
612-729-5498
Lowry Hill Liquors
Minneapolis
612-871-2500
Lunds & Byerlys - Mpls
Minneapolis
952-927-3663
Surdyk's
Minneapolis
612-379-3232
North Loop Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-338-5393
Top Ten Liquors - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
Mgm - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
952-470-2062
Glen Lake Wine & Spirits
Minnetonka
952-935-7375
Lunds & Byerlys - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
952-541-1414
Total Wine & More #1608 - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
952-545-2754
Harbor Wine & Spirits
Mound
952-472-0648
Winestreet Spirit-north Oak
North Oaks
651-483-1767
Hy-vee - Oakdale
Oakdale
651-417-3160
Lunds & Byerlys - Plymouth
Plymouth
763-268-1624
Top Ten Liquors - Plymouth
Plymouth
763-657-0349
Fresh Thyme - Plymouth
Plymouth
651-846-8821
Top Ten Liquors - Ramsey
Ramsey
763-427-7131
Richfield # 1 - 66th & Lyndale
Richfield
612-861-9375
Richfield # 2 - Cedar
Richfield
612-861-9370
Richfield # 3 - Penn
Richfield
612-861-9380
Andy's Liquor
Rochester
507-289-0777
Top Ten Liquors - Rosemount
Rosemount
612-730-7666
Cub Liquor - Roseville
Roseville
952-922-8335
Cub Wine & Spirits - Harmar
Roseville
Top Ten Liquors - Roseville
Roseville
651-340-1846
Total Wine & More #1602 - Roseville
Roseville
301-795-1000
St Anthony Village # 2
Saint Anthony
612-782-3452
St Anthony Village # 1
Saint Anthony
612-782-3451
Coborn's - St Cloud
Saint Cloud
320-252-8346
Coborn's - St Joseph
Saint Joseph
230-363-0011
Total Wine & More #1610 - St Louis Park
Saint Louis Park
Top Ten Liquors - Slp
Saint Louis Park
952-920-0750
Lunds & Byerlys - St Louis Park
Saint Louis Park
952-929-2100
Liquor Boy
Saint Louis Park
952-512-2200
Cash Wise Liquor - St Michael
Saint Michael
763-497-0659
Toasted Wine+spirits+ales
Saint Paul
651-246-8054
Thomas Liquor
Saint Paul
651-699-1860
Perrier - St Paul
Saint Paul
651-227-6563
Morelli's Discount Liquor
Saint Paul
651-774-5961
Scott's Liquor
Saint Paul
651-690-4434
Rite Liquor Store
Saint Paul
651-414-0346
Midway Liquor Store
Saint Paul
651-644-7900
Liquor Village
Saint Paul
651-699-7070
Dabbler Depot
Saint Paul
651-802-2112
First Grand Liquors
Saint Paul
651-227-7039
Marshall Liquors
Saint Paul
651-642-1891
Haskell's - St Paul
Saint Paul
651-698-8844
Coborn's - Sartell
Sartell
320-252-0603
Shorewood Liquors
Shorewood
952-474-6869
Cellars Wine & Spirits - Stillwater
Stillwater
651-439-4319
Cub Wine & Spirits - Stillwater
Stillwater
651-430-2350
Top Ten Liquors - Vadnais Heights
Vadnais Heights
612-730-7666
Fresh Thyme - Waite Park
Waite Park
320-200-6086
West Side Liquor - Waite Park
Waite Park
320-253-9511
Wayzata Wines & Spirits
Wayzata
952-473-7191
Tonka Bottle Shop
Wayzata
952-473-5469
Cub Liquor - West Stp
West Saint Paul
651-457-3731
Cellars Wine & Spirits Wbl
White Bear Lake
651-426-1028
Lunds & Byerlys - Wbl (off)
White Bear Lake
Haskell's - White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake
651-426-0022
Bald Eagle Liquor
White Bear Township
651-407-1850
Cash Wise Liquor - Willmar
Willmar
320-235-8797
Total Wine & More #1604 - Woodbury
Woodbury
301-795-1000
Jerry's Wine & Spirits
Woodbury
651-414-4870
Top Ten Liquors - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-501-1199
