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 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 good quarter (28%) of the 14,000 or so Rhône Valley bottles auctioned the first half of 2024, which demonstrates just how important they are at auction. During this time, no fewer than 3,699 bottles were auctioned on the iDealwine platform, rising to 3,898 if we scale the bottles to a 750 ml format.

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 1990 vintage being bought for €2,629 by a French buyer. 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 €1,315. 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 2007 vintage from the leading wine critic at the time, Robert Parker, it sold for €831 at auction on iDealwine in recent months. Other outstanding wines praised by the famous American expert in the past include the 1998 Da Capo from Domaine du Pegaü (awarded 99/100 by Robert Parker; sold for €526); 2003 La Plume du Peintre from Domaine de la Mordorée (awarded 99/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €403), 2007 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 €338) and 2007 Deus Ex Machina from Clos Saint-Jean (awarded 100/100 by Robert Parker, sold for €300).

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 century, the 1978 Châteauneuf produced by Paul Avril (Paul-Vincent’s father) sold for €501.

Another success story is that of Domaine de Pignan, which owes much to the talent of its proprietor Frédéric Charvin and the quality of the age-old vines, but also to its name. ’Pignan’ is the name of a parcel adjacent to Rayas, and Emmanuel Reynaud  has given it to one of his cuvées of Châteauneuf, which has become a firm favourite among wine lovers, driving up the price of bottles from the eponymous estate.

While most estates follow environmentally friendly methods, two are certified organic: Château de Beaucastel and Clos des Papes. A further six estates are certified biodynamic: Domaine du Pegaü, Domaine Chapoutier, Domaine de la Mordorée, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Domaine Giraud and Domaine Saint-Préfert. And there are two certified organic estates practising biodynamic viticulture: Clos du Caillou and Domaine de Marcoux. 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 three representatives in the Top 20 highest-priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the first half of the year (in addition to Domaine Paul Avril, Château Fortia and Bois de Boursan). 1990 is also an exceptional year for many wine regions, and Châteauneuf is no exception. The iDealwine auction rankings include Château Rayas, of course, but Henri Bonneau, Chapoutier (Barbe Rac, €250) and Domaine de Marcoux (Vieilles Vignes, €232) also rank highly.

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 five major names represented in the rankings: Beaucastel, as previously mentioned, as well as La Janasse, Pierre Usseglio, le Clos Saint-Jean and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The 2009, 2010 and 2015 vintages are also represented by four estates. It’s worth noting that the more mature vintages heavily feature among the highest-priced wines. 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 Clos des Papes, which fetched €109.

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.

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 2022, for example, sold for €71 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 2024

Position	Lot description	Lot hammer price (vat incl.)	Unit price/750ml	Variation vs Starting price
1	1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape – Château Rayas	€2,629	€2,629	5%
2	1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins – Henri Bonneau & Fils	€1,315	€1,315	31%
3	1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin – Château de Beaucastel	€831	€831	60%
4	1 bt 1998 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo – Domaine du Pégau	€526	€526	5%
5	1 bt 1978 Ch.-du-Pape – Clos des Papes	€501	€501	–
6	1 bt 2003 Ch.-du-Pape La Mordorée La Plume du Peintre – La Mordorée	€401	€401	–
7	1 bt Ch.-du-Pape – Domaine de Pignan	€376	€376	–
8	1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée XXL – La Janasse	€376	€376	–
9	1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Not For You – Pierre Usseglio & Fils	€338	€338	–
10	1 bt 2007 Ch.-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina – Clos Saint-Jean	€300	€300	41%
11	1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Barbe Rac – Chapoutier	€250	€250	150%
12	1 bt 2010 Ch.-du-Pape Cuvée Pure – La Barroche	€238	€238	27%
13	1 bt 1990 Ch.-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes – Domaine de Marcoux	€232	€232	–
14	1 bt 2001 Ch.-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon – Domaine Roger Sabon	€213	€213	–
15	1 bt 2009 Ch.-du-Pape Réservé – Vieille Julienne	€200	€200	–
16	1 bt 2010 Ch.-du-Pape Domaine Réserve – Le Clos du Caillou	€175	€175	56%
17	1 bt 1978 Ch.-du-Pape Tête de Cru – Château Fortia	€175	€175	27%
18	1 magnum 2007 Ch.-du-Pape – Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe	€313	€157	–
19	1 bt 2015 Ch.-du-Pape Colombis – Domaine Saint-Préfert	€125	€125	–
20	1 bt 1978 Ch.-du-Pape – Domaine Bois de Boursan	€109	€109	118%