Jean Royer - Paul M. Young Fine Wines

www.domainejeanroyer.fr

The Royer family has been growing wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for over a hundred years. The father of Jean-Marie Royer died when Jean-Marie was a child, and for some years, all of their land was let out to other vignerons. As a young man, Jean Royer helped his grandmother in her small vineyards, and when she died, he inherited a small part of her fields.

In 1985, having finished his viticulture schooling, Jean-Marie returned to the family vineyards, and over the years, has bought more land from the family. Today, he owns six ha with 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah/Mourvedre. The grandmother’s cellars in the town are too small to produce and age the wines. So far, Jean-Marie Royer has rented cellars to the south of the town. It varies which cuvées Jean-Marie Royer decides to make.

In the 2001, 2006 and 2007 vintages, he made a cuvée of 100% Syrah, not because the Syrah in these vintages was especially good but because Grenache was good and needing no Syrah. If the vintage is very good he makes Cuvée Hommage à mon Père, including 2001 and 2007. A Vin du Table called Le Petit Domaine makes up a considerable part of the production. This wine comes from three sources: 0.6 ha situated near the camping site south of the town and outside any appellation. 0.5 ha in Orange is situated in AOC Côtes du Rhone. The most important part of the wines is declassified Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

In 2005 was not made Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition at all. This vin du Table resembles a small Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ready to drink soon but with potential for cellaring. Since a Vin du Table cannot show the year of the vintage on the label, this wine is given a “hidden” vintage year: “5ème année” means 2005, and so on. Jean-Marie Royer is a good friend of oenologist Philippe Cambie, and the two work closely together.

Jean Royer Le Petit Roy 2021

The Petit Roy grapes come from a parcel on the commune of Chateauneuf du Pape, which borders oxbow lakes of the Rhone beyond the AOC area (Syrah, Grenache). They also come from a parcel located between Chateauneuf du Pape and Orange within the Cotes du Rhône AOC. The philosophy and vinification governing this vintage are identical to the Chateauneuf du Pape, right down to the bottling.

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Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Tradition 2020

Lots of ripe black cherries, peppery garrigue, black olive, and a subtle iodine and marine-like nuance emerge from the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a big, ripe, incredibly sexy classic cuvée that has full-bodied richness and no hard edges. It’s for the Grenache lovers out there. 92 points

Jeb Dunnuck/ jebdunnuck.com (11/3/21)

Soil: Round pebbles, Southern/Southwestern exposure (Bois de la Ville).
Cultivation: Traditional working of the soil (according to the lunar calendar). Green harvest.
Varietal: Grapes from the youngest vines (average age around 40 years). Grenache 90%, Syrah 5%, Mourvèdre 5%.
Yield: 30/35 Hl / ha
Harvest: Manual, in 15 kg cases. Sorting at the vineyard followed by a selective, rigorous sorting by table in the cellar.
Vinification: Systematic separation of soils, vines by age and varietal. Maceration takes place in concrete or steel tanks. Grapes are destemmed. Pumping over of the wine and rack and return fermentation, controlled temperatures, free-run wine is automatically separated from pressed wines.
Maturation: A strong tendency to retain its natural, fruity qualities over time.
Production: 4,000 bottles

REVIEWS:
Jean Royer CdP Cuvee Tradition 2009 IWC August 2011
Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 2012, VINOUS April 2015
Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Tradition 2013, WA October 2015
Jean Royer CdP Cuvee Tradition 2015, JD October 2017
Jean Royer CdP Cuvee Tradition 2016, JD August 2018
Jean Royer CdP Cuvee Tradition 2017, JD August 2018

Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Sables de la Crau 2020

More sweet red fruits, blueberries, violets, and awesome floral notes all emerge from the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sables de La Crau, which is, as always, 100% Grenache from the sandy portions of the La Crau lieu-dit. This full-bodied, flamboyant, exotic Grenache has tons of upfront appeal, a sexy, seamless texture, and loads of personality, although it appears to lack the density and depth found in the 2016.

Jeb Dunnuck/ jebdunnuck.com

Soil: Sandy soils, prestigious terroir of La Crau, Northern Exposure.
Cultivation: Traditional working of the soil (according to the lunar calendar). Green harvest.
Varietal: 100% Grenache. Grapes exclusively from our oldest vines.
Yield: around 25 Hl / ha
Harvest: Manual harvest, in 15 kg cases. Sorting at the vineyard followed by a selective, rigorous sorting by table in the cellar.
Vinification: Systematic separation of soils, vines by age and varietal. Maceration takes place in concrete or steel tanks. Grapes are destemmed. Pumping over of the wine and rack and return fermentation, controlled temperatures, free-run wine is automatically separated from pressed wines.
Maturation: 50% free-run wine, 50% in tank

REVIEWS:
Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Sables de la Crau 2013, WA October 2015
Jean Royer CdP Sables de la Crau 2015, JD October 2017
Jean Royer CdP Sables de la Crau 2016, JD August 2018
Jean Royer CdP Cuvee Les Sables De La Crau 2017, JD August 2018

Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Prestige 2020

Lastly, lots of black cherries, earth, peppery herbs, and graphite notes emerge from the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prestige. It has more density than the Les Sables de La Crau, is medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and plenty of length. It’s another character-filled, expressive wine from Jean Marie Royer.

Jeb Dunnuck/ jebdunnuck.com

Soil: Round pebbles, Southern/Southwestern exposure (Bois de la Ville, Grandes Serres).
Cultivation: Traditional working of the soil (according to the lunar calendar). Green harvest.
Varietal: Grapes from our most gorgeous, old vines from 1890. Grenache 90%, Syrah 5%, Mourvèdre 5%.
Yield: 20/25 Hl / ha
Harvest: Manual harvest, in 15 kg cases. Sorting at the vineyard followed by a selective, rigorous sorting by table in the cellar.
Vinification: Systematic separation of soils, vines by age and varietal. Maceration takes place in concrete or steel tanks. Grapes are destemmed. Pumping over of the wine and rack and return fermentation, controlled temperatures, free-run wine is automatically separated from pressed wines.
Maturation: 50% free-run wine. 50% in tank
Production: 4,000 bottles

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