Châteauneuf-du-Pape? This vast and historic vineyard covering 3,200 hectares which, in 1936, gave rise to one of the very first AOCs in France is impossible to sum up in just a few words. The diversity of its terroirs, combined with specifications authorising the blend of 13 grape varieties, provide winemakers with an extraordinary creative palette! They can add their personal touch through a range of wine styles which go from delicate and silky profiles for cuvées originating from sandy soils to bold, full-bodied wines crafted from grapes grown on clay-y and iron-rich soils with sandstone present. Some winegrowers produce a single cuvée, mirroring the variety of soils their grapes come from. They play with different characteristics to produce wines of remarkable complexity and legendary longevity. Other winemakers single out highly specific terroirs and craft special cuvées. This is what makes this multi-faceted appellation so charming and interesting. So how do you find your way around, and more importantly, how do you choose the best from such a wide range of wine profiles and styles?
The secondary auction market offers valuable insights, including the top-ranking wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines account for a nearly quarter (23%) of the 10,500 or so Rhône Valley bottles auctioned the first half of 2025, which demonstrates just how important they are at auction.
The iDealwine Top 20 for Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Unsurprisingly, the list of most expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines is topped by Château Rayas with a bottle of its 1978 vintage being bought for €4,507 after an auction battle. Two wines were auctioned for over €1,000 a bottle. The famous 1990 Réserve des Célestins from Domaine Henri Bonneau went under the hammer for €1,189. That’s the price for a collectable wine.
In addition to these two icons, the rankings also include special cuvées produced alongside the estate’s traditional, classic or reserve wines. The most iconic comes from Château de Beaucastel, which produces the wine Hommage à Jacques Perrin only in exceptional years. Earning a 100/100 rating for the 1989 vintage from the leading wine critic at the time, Robert Parker, it sold for €951 at auction on iDealwine in recent months. Other outstanding wines praised by the famous American expert in the past include the 2003 Da Capo from Domaine du Pegaü (awarded 100/100 by Robert Parker; sold for €451); 1990 Les Cailloux Cuvée Centenaire from André Brunel (rated 100/100 by Robert Parker; sold for €426); 2003 La Plume du Peintre from Domaine de la Mordorée (awarded 99/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €338), 2016 Cuvée XXL from La Janasse (awarded 100/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €376), 2007 Not For You from Pierre Usseglio (awarded 98/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €325) and 2005 Deus Ex Machina from Clos Saint-Jean (awarded 100/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €288).
Lastly, and as expected, the property Clos des Papes really stands out. This is where Paul Vincent Avril, a highly gifted winemaker, produces a single cuvée from the 20 or so plots he owns. They are primarily located in the Crau area, one of the most reputed. Among the finest achievements of the decade, the 1989 Châteauneuf produced by Paul Avril (Paul-Vincent’s father) sold for €200.
While most estates follow environmentally friendly methods, some are certified organic: Château de Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, Clos du Caillou and Domaine de Marcoux. Several other estates are certified biodynamic such as Domaine du Pegaü, Domaine de la Mordorée, and Domaine Saint-Préfert. Certification is admittedly demanding, but it’s worth remembering that some first-rate estates operate with the utmost care, producing wines of admirable finesse and quality.
Which vintages are the best?
In terms of harvest year, several vintages stand out. We already mentioned 1978, with one representative (Château Rayas in 1st place) in the Top 20 highest-priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the first half of the year . 1990 is also an exceptional year for many wine regions, and Châteauneuf is no exception. The iDealwine auction rankings include four bottles from this vintage.
More recent vintages include 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The 2007 vintage in particular proves to be one of the greatest triumphs of the start of the century, with three major names represented in the rankings: Pierre Usseglio, Saint-Préfert and Marcoux. The 2009, 2010 and 2015 vintages are also represented by several estates. It’s worth noting that the more mature vintages heavily feature among the highest-priced wines, taking the three places on the podium. That said, wine lovers are also well advised to acquire younger vintages of Châteauneuf, as their style has evolved to offer wines that are accessible earlier, without compromising their ageing potential, which remains intact. Which of the more recent years are the best? The 2019 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is absolutely outstanding. No fewer than 224 bottles (when scaled to 750 ml) were auctioned during the first half of the year, including… a bottle of 2019 Château de Beaucastel, which fetched €479.
2020 is another interesting year for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing supple, engaging wines from their early years. A succession of weather incidents hit 2021, resulting in limited quantities of exceptionally delicate Châteauneufs. They are hard to find yet are as enthralling as they are delicious… 2022 also produced an early vintage, characterised by low yields. 2023, the most recent vintage to be released onto the market, looks to be a great vintage .
Prices that still remain affordable
You can still find Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines at affordable prices, as the appellation’s great strength lies in its ability to offer such a wide variety. Here’s an overview of iDealwine’s most highly recommended estates on account of the elegance of their wines. Alongside the Vieux Télégraphe, the list includes Domaine Charvin, Vieux Donjon, Les Cailloux (André Brunel)… While Château de Beaucastel has established itself as a safe bet, it’s also worth keeping a close eye on the wines produced by Domaine Saint-Préfert, where Isabel Ferrando introduced a major change in 2019, renouncing the isolation of her parcel-based cuvées to produce a single blended wine. It’s been a tremendous success, both for her reds and her superb whites produced from old Clairette vines.
Also well worth keeping an eye on is Domaine de Nalys, which has recently been taken over by the Guigal family, who have great ambitions for this estate. And finally, several names, still rather unknown until recently, are now emerging as veritable treasures that wine lovers are fiercely contending for, given the rarity of these wines. This is true of brothers Arthur and Hugo Mayard, whose eponymous estate (around 10 hectares) stems from the separation of the family vineyards. Their wines are not – yet! – in the most sought-after Châteauneuf-du-Papes rankings: the 2021, for example, sold for €113 in the first half of the year. But this name is certainly one to follow, with wines vinified in a natural spirit, displaying a delicate, silky texture reminiscent of a certain… Château Rayas. So, as you’ll have gathered, Châteauneuf is a region in constant evolution, a fascinating mosaic of terroirs where immense talent comes to life and breaks new ground. Much to the delight of wine lovers.
All our Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines for sale
Ranking of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines auctioned on iDealwine during the first six months of 2025
| Position | Lot description | Lot hammer price (VAT incl.) | Unit price/750ml | Variation vs Starting price |
| 1 | 1 bt 1978 Ch.-du-Pape – Château Rayas | €4,507 | €4,507 | 50% |
| 2 | 1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins – Henri Bonneau & Fils | €1,189 | €1,189 | – |
| 3 | 1 bt 1989 Ch.-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin – Château de Beaucastel | €951 | €951 | 25% |
| 4 | 1 bt 2003 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo – Domaine du Pégau | €451 | €451 | 20% |
| 5 | 2 bts 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Les Cailloux Cuvée Centenaire – André Brunel | €852 | €426 | – |
| 6 | 1 bt 2016 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée XXL – La Janasse | €376 | €376 | – |
| 7 | 1 bt 2003 Ch.-du-Pape La Plume du Peintre – La Mordorée | €338 | €338 | – |
| 8 | 1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Not For You – Pierre Usseglio & Fils | €325 | €325 | – |
| 9 | 1 bt 2005 Ch.-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina – Clos Saint-Jean | €288 | €288 | 21% |
| 10 | 1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Vignobles Brunier – Vieux Télégraphe | €238 | €238 | 58% |
| 11 | 2 bts 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée du Papet – Clos du Mont-Olivet | €426 | €213 | 13% |
| 12 | 1 bt 1989 Ch.-du-Pape Clos des Papes – Paul Avril | €200 | €200 | 33% |
| 13 | 1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud – Domaine Saint-Préfert | €188 | €188 | 15% |
| 14 | 1 bt 1949 Ch.-du-Pape La Valette – R. Hugues | €175 | €175 | 180% |
| 15 | 1 bt 1972 Ch.-du-Pape – Xavier Vignon | €175 | €175 | 40% |
| 16 | 1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes – Domaine de Marcoux | €175 | €175 | – |
| 17 | 1 bt 2010 Ch.-du-Pape Réserve – Le Clos du Caillou | €175 | €175 | 27% |
| 18 | 1 bt 2010 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet – Mas de Boislauzon | €165 | €165 | – |
| 19 | 2 bts 2016 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée Pure – Domaine La Barroche | €326 | €163 | – |
| 20 | 1 bt 2010 Ch.-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes – Domaine Grand Veneur | €163 | €163 | – |
Some other great wines which surpassed the €100 mark at auction did not make it into the rankings and a special mention goes out to Rotem & Mounir Saouma, Chapoutier, Jaboulet, Roger Sabon, Chapelle Saint-Théodoric, Beaurenard, Famille Boiron, la Vieille Julienne, Giraud…
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