Domaine Font de Michelle 1984

Wine: Domaine Font de Michelle 1984
Winery: Domaine Font de Michelle (Bédarrides, Rhône Valley)
Appellation / Region: A.O.C. Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Varietals: 70% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% local varieties (Cinsault, Counoise, Terret, Muscardin).
ABV: 12.5%

Winemaking
Each varietal was vinified separately in neutral oak foudres (25 to 80 hectoliters), where they completed fermentation. The wine was then racked into French oak barriques (2nd to 5th fill) for a minimum of 16 months. Following the final blend (assemblage), the wine rested for an additional 6 months in large vats prior to bottling.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-cherry hue of medium depth; brilliant and clean with a noticeable viscosity. It features a broad, copper-toned rim that shows minimal variation from the meniscus.

 

Nose: Displays a distinct Southern Rhône character—powerful 

and spicy, with notes of clove, bay leaf, and black pepper. It carries a heavy core of toasted nuances, hearth smoke, licorice twists, and tapenade. This wine is highly sensitive to temperature, showing a disconcerting tendency to open and close in the glass. It reveals a generous amount of reduced fruit with liqueur-like hints of cherries, candied orange, honey-eucalyptus drops, and quince paste. The aromatic profile is grounded by an earthy, flinty backbone with accents of rosemary, broom, wet leaves, and resinous pine.

 

Palate: Fresh and medium-bodied with a light, agile mouthfeel. It is driven by a vibrant acidity and a concentration of jammy red fruit. Thoroughly Mediterranean in style, it is spicy and laced with fine mentholated and bitter notes. The finish leaves a persistent patina of seasoned wood alongside confit fruit on the retronasal passage. An intriguing and highly recognizable expression of the appellation.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 89