Reviews
-Decanter -
-Jeb Dunnuck -
Technical Details
- 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah and 5% other grapes
- Jean-Paul Versino
- France
- Rhone Valley
- Southern Rhone
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Organic Practices
- old Oak barrels
- 3 weeks
- 18 months in old Oak barrels
- 14.5%
Domaine Bois de Boursan Cuvée des Félix Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
Organic Practices
20% OFF RETAIL!
Yes! Organic, savory, family-grown, under-the-radar Châteauneuf-du-Pape is here right in time for crunchy leaves and simmering stews. Autumn is essentially CdP season, and this 2021 stunner packs 94 points and 20% in savings, and looks pretty darn good in a glass next to your heirloom pumpkin display.
Sure, “technically” autumn is still a few weeks away – but by the time this arrives and you plan the perfect crisp evening to whip out your aunt’s epic pot roast recipe, you’ll be glad we shared this jewel-toned muse with you today. Jean Versino moved his family from Piedmont to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and started Domaine Bois de Boursan in 1955, selling the great majority of their wine to négociants in the early years. His son Jean-Paul Versino took over in the late ‘80s and took the winery in a different direction, selling their own wines directly to consumers. Organic farming was initiated in 2011, and now the estate manages 16 hectares across CdP split between 27 parcels with an unwavering grasp on old-school vinification ways (i.e., no destemming, extended cuvaison, elevage in wood of varying sizes).
The “Cuvée des Félix” is one of the family’s top expressions that comes from the best-exposed, lowest-yielding vines. Some of the appellation’s prestige bottlings are treated with extensive extraction or new oak to supercharge the character, but this one is produced without these frills, instead allowing the site and vine age (50 years average) to carry the performance. It fermented in concrete and aged for 22 months in 2 to 6-year-old barriques, and its final form is ever so clever and pure.
Given a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, and 5% other traditional varieties, it has this cool, musky, black currant character from the jump – just loaded with dark fruit concentration, dried violets, freshly ground coffee beans, herbes de Provence, and spicy peppercorn. The acidity is fresh and carries throughout the finish, accentuated by throbbingly full tannins that soften with a little air. You’re set to drink this now or anytime through the next 15 or so years – and with free shipping on only 3 bottles, why not get enough for now and later?