2012 Jean Royer Le Petit Roy

A delicious lip smacking offering.

Although settled in Chateauneuf du Pape since the 18th century, the wines of the Royer family have only come to prominence in the last 20 years. Upon finishing his viticultural studies, Jean-Marie Royer took over the estate in 1985. After his father’s passing in 1966, the land had been let out to different vignerons of the appellation by family members and so, it was Jean-Marie's first task to rebuild the Domaine.

Convincing his family to let him reclaim the vineyards was only a first step as the wines produced from the land were been sold entirely to the negociants. Slowly building credibility and recognition, he now produces a range of six different Chateauneuf expressions and the dark horse of the family, “Le Petit Roy.” Designated simply as 'Vin de France', Le Petit Roy could almost fall into the category of 'U.V.O.' (Unidentified Vinous Object) if it wasn’t for the impeccable pedigree of the land it grows on, some of it just outside the Chateauneuf appellation near the dead arm of the Rhone and another block of Mourvedre near Courthezon.

Opaque dark crimson black tinged colour with crimson purple hue. The nose offers up perfumed scents of dark raspberry and black cherries followed by a hint of liquorice and lavender with very light spice end notes. Medium to full bodied with a soft generous texture the palate delivers rich mouthfilling flavours of black raspberry and black cherries followed by some liquorice with a spicy back palate. Velvet smooth tannins with long spicy black raspberry and liquorice aftertaste.
Limited Stocks.
Drink over the next 3-4 years (2014-2018).
Alc 14.5%