Réserve des Diacres Chateauneuf-du-Pape (DNR)
Pairs with: Rosemary-rubbed roast lamb shoulders, tandoori lamb skewers, slow-braised beef short ribs with a touch of chili, or a rich Gouda cheese board.
Good for: Introducing friends to an approachable, fruit-forward style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, cracking open for a festive weekend dinner, or enjoying a high-pedigree red that drinks beautifully right now without requiring a decade of cellaring.
Grape: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre.
I am from: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Southern Rhône Valley, France.
The Story: Réserve des Diacres (translated as the "Deacons' Reserve") is a spectacular, boutique collaboration spearheaded by Baptiste Grangeon—the world-class master winemaker behind the iconic, critically acclaimed Domaine Cristia. Seeking to craft a racy, elegant Châteauneuf-du-Pape that breaks away from the hyper-extracted, tightly wound traditional norms, Baptiste hand-selects premium fruit from the neighboring vineyards of his close family friends. The winemaking is handled with a brilliantly precise, low-intervention touch: the grapes undergo a cool three-week maceration and alcoholic fermentation before being matured for roughly 10 months entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. By intentionally bypassing heavy oak barrel aging, the Grangeon family locks in a vibrant, pristine fruit snapshot that honors the true, historic soul of the appellation.
Why You'll Love Me: It is rich, incredibly smooth, and beautifully expressive, focusing on mouthwatering fruit purity and silky elegance over heavy wood makeup. It pours a clear, deep ruby-red color in the glass with shimmering purple highlights. The nose is instantly seductive, bursting with an aromatic bouquet of wild strawberries, ripe black cherries, and sweet griotte, seamlessly woven with complex undertones of fresh liquorice, warm baking spices, and fragrant garrigue (the wild thyme and rosemary of the local countryside). On the palate, it hits with a full, velvety, and beautifully ample mouthfeel that overflows with juicy dark berry fruit. Everything is framed flawlessly by soft, well-melted tannins and a refreshing peppery lift, leading to a long, persistent finish marked by notes of bittersweet chocolate and savory spice.
