2020 Château Gigognan "Collection Stephane Henin" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Stéphane Henin is a single varietal Mourvèdre, aged 16 months in foudre. It mingles aromas of raspberry, strawberry, red plum, licorice, dried herbs, earth and black olive. On the palate this 2020 is full-bodied, balanced by fresh acidity and framed by slightly unrefined tannins, but concluding with a pleasant finish. (NG)

We only received a tiny amount of the 2020 "Collection Stephane Henin". This is the winery’s unicorn wine. The “Stephane Henin” is a tribute to the late father of the owner Jean-François Hénin and is 100% Mourvedre. It is rare to see 100% varietal wine produced in the region that is not Grenache. Only one barrel of this wine is produced in the best vintages, and we were one of the few to receive some. This is a bold wine with rich red and black fruit, savory spices and a long finish. It reminds me a little of the bigger wines of Bandol but this has a riper middle palate that makes it oh, so attractive. If you get a bottle, set it aside for a few years if you can. It will be worth the wait.