Do you know Château Cabrières? Complete wine guide

We'd like to introduce you to one of our partner estates: the Château Cabrières. The estate is located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Vaucluse department of Provence, in the southern Rhône Valley. Visit our online wine cellar to find the finest Château Cabrières wines from the estate:

> Château Cabrières from the estate

The property dates back to a long time ago, with the discovery and preservation of a bread oven door whose stonework is reminiscent of 14th and 15th century techniques, proving the château's age. The estate is located on the Châteauneuf-du-Pape plateau, 3 km north of the village and 7 km south of Orange. They produce white and red Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wines (Tradition, Prestige and Centenaire), red and rosé Côtes du Rhône wines (Eclat de Rosé), and table wine (Chicatouille de Cabrières). In this article, I'll tell you about the history of this estate, and present one of its main cuvées.

 

History of the estate

Visit Château Cabrières has belonged to the Arnaud family : Louis in the 50s; his son Guy succeeded him, and since March 2009, Agnès and her husband Patrick Vernier have taken over the running of the estate with the same aim of perpetuating it. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroir is highly distinctive and unique. The vast majority of the terroir is made up of alluvial terraces or quartzite pebbles, rolled by the Rhône and embedded in a red matrix of decomposed clay.

The 3 types of soil that characterize the Châteauneuf-du-Pape A.O.C. are :

• Gravelly soils
• Sandy soils (along the Rhône)
• Pebbles or rolled flint (quartzite) store heat during the day and release it at night for perfect ripeness.

Château Cabrières has these 3 types of soil, and the subsoil is also important. It is essentially composed of Burdigalian molasse. The region also benefits from a specific climate. With around 300 days of sunshine a year and the mistral, a strong, dry northerly wind that blows more than 120 days a year. It's one of the driest areas in the Rhône Valley and one of the sunniest in France. This climate allows the vines to produce highly concentrated, long-keeping wines that are reflected in their prestigious bottles.

The 13 grape varieties make up the exceptional "Prestige" and "Centenaire" cuvées. Each grape variety contributes its own specificity to produce a great red wine for ageing, with structure, body, tannins, aromas, exceptional fruit, freshness and roundness. Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites are supple, with an exceptional aromatic bouquet thanks to the four grape varieties that make them up: Grenache blanc, Clairette, Roussanne and Bourboulenc.

Presentation of the estate's vintages

Most of these wines are in stock on our site. We are fortunate to have allocations every year from the estate. Stay informed about latest arrivals from Château Cabrières on the site. You can even create an email alert in your Comptoir des Millésimes customer account! This way, you'll be the first to know when wine arrivals from Château Cabrières. Here are the finest vintages:

 

• Châteauneuf du Pape Tradition rouge - Château Cabrières :

A blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault, this top-of-the-range cuvée underwent 4 weeks of alcoholic fermentation before maceration and a year's barrel ageing. Its ruby-red color opens with deep notes of red fruits and spices. On the palate, the tannins are round and pleasant, with the same tonalities as on the nose, but with more pronounced spicy notes. Ideal with red meats or game. The Châteauneuf du Pape, from the lieu-dit Cabrières, is composed of 50 % each of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, and 10 % of Cinsault, aged in various containers. It has a lot to offer: notes of vanilla and cedar, mint and ripe cherries, a full-bodied palate and creamy texture, and a long finish. But all these elements are somewhat jumbled at the moment, and where it's all going is not entirely clear.

• Châteauneuf du Pape blanc - Confidential - Château Cabrières :

Next to the superb reds from this estate, the Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc is rounder and more direct, with some earthy and mineral characteristics, as well as medium body, good acidity and lots of apple and orchard fruit. Very good! Drink young, or cellar for 5 years. Grape varieties: Clairette (40%), Bourboulenc (10%), Grenache blanc (40%), Roussanne (10%).

• Châteauneuf du Pape Prestige red - Château Cabrières :

Châteauneuf du Pape Prestige is a superb, serious wine offering real depth, richness, full-bodied weight, purity and structure. A blend of thirteen different authorized grape varieties, all aged 18 months in barrel. It offers many aromas and flavors of black and blue fruits, garrigue, spices and licorice. Laying down : Drink from 5 years in the cellar, and up to 15-20 years depending on the success of the vintage. Blend & varietals: Grenache (50%), Syrah (15%), Mourvèdre (15%), Cinsault (10%) and the remaining 10%: Vaccarèse, Counoise, Muscardin, Picpoul, Picardan, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, and Terret Noir.

I hope you'll find all the information you need to enjoy Châteauneuf du Pape from Château Cabrières! See also our other estate guides:

> All Guides from our partner estates

 

 

> More information on the official domain website