The Fountain of Youth: 1972 by Xavier Vignon

K&L Rhone Buyer Keith Mabry introduces viewers to a very special 1972 Chateauneuf du Pape by Xavier Vignon. This wine is in impeccable condition, and has a great story to tell.

The 1972 Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Xavier Vignon is a very special--very unique--bottle of wine. This nearly 50-year-old wine has only been in bottle less than a year! After aging in concrete foudre in the exact same cellar since it was made in 1972, it was recently discovered and bottled by Rhône winemaker and consulting oenologist, Xavier Vignon. Decidedly, this was not made by Vignon, who was only three years old when the wine came to be. But, as a keen wine hunter, with connections all throughout the Rhône Valley, Vignon recognized this for the truly extraordinary find that it is.

This wine was made in a single batch from growers who generally sold fruit and juice to winemakers, but who decided to keep this marvelous vat in their cellar for decades. The wine lived in its foudre home at this domaine for nearly 50 years before ever seeing the inside of a bottle. This means that very little oxygen has ever reached the wine and that it was kept at ideal cellar temperature--all this shows in its remarkable freshness and acidity. At first sniff, there are leathery and herbal notes with aromatic spearmint and clove accents. On the palate, there are layers of fresh plums and maturing fruit, with the overall effect of a lithe vivaciousness. It should maintain this level of character for another 10 years. 

What a pleasure it was to taste such a beautiful yin yang of evolution and freshness. A profound wine experience, for sure!

We’ll soon have his 2001 "Cuvée Ange" Châteauneuf-du-Pape in stock, which honors the birth year of his son Ange, and also happens to be an outstanding vintage for the region. This wine was also only bottled in 2019 (on his son’s birthday in July), and was aged in barrels that were consistently topped off to preserve freshness. An excellent way to taste this vintage from a really top-notch wine mind. 

- Kate Soto