97 points - "The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine du Banneret is superb, wafting from the glass with a perfumed bouquet of peonies, wildflowers, dark cherries, red berries and garrigue. Medium- to full-bodied, suave and seamless, it’s layered and textural, with a delicate, juicy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and concluding with an expansive, lingering finish. This is arguably one of the finest wines ever produced at this address—and without contest, one of the wines of the vintage. It’s a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and the remainder made up of small percentages of the other permitted varieties.

Domaine du Banneret is among the smallest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with just five hectares of vines clustered near the village center. Jean-Claude Vidal revived the domaine in the 1980s, producing his first vintage in 1989 under the guidance of Henri Bonneau, whose influence continues to shape its philosophy. Today, his daughter Audrey carries the torch, farming and vinifying with the same traditional ethos, privileging substance over fashion.

The domaine produces only one red cuvée, a co-fermented field blend of all 13 permitted grape varieties, and since 2015, a white cuvée as well. The vineyards, averaging 60 years of age and including plots over 80, are interplanted on classic galets roulés over clay-limestone. Grenache leads the plantings, followed by Mourvèdre, Syrah and a mosaic of minor reds and whites.

Farming follows organic principles, though without certification. Audrey ploughs the soil, prunes to regulate vigor and tailors canopy management to each season. Yields are controlled by pruning rather than crop thinning. Harvesting is carried out manually by a small team, with sorting beginning in the vineyard.

All varieties ferment in the cellar in concrete tanks with native yeasts. Depending on stem maturity, Audrey includes whole clusters. Fermentations last around three weeks, with extraction achieved through infusion, remontage and pigéage employed only as needed. Élevage extends 18 to 24 months in old, large foudres. New oak is avoided, and bottling proceeds without filtration.

The 2023 vintage delivered a healthy crop at 31 hectoliters per hectare. The wines evoke the structure of 2018 but with cooler fruit tones, softer textures and greater aromatic finesse. For Banneret, 2023 stands as one of the domaine’s most successful vintages to date." - Yohan Castaing (The Wine Advocate)

Importer Notes (Andrew Guard Wine Imports):

Châteauneuf-du-Pape has long been a favourite wine of mine, for various reasons, mostly the complexity; it's greatness and complexity come from a combination of history, terroir, grape diversity, winemaking tradition, and strict AOP regulations.

13 traditional grape varieties (expanded to 18 if you include colour variants) can be used, in addition there are four main areas that provide for different ripening with varied soil types within them, this is serious diversity already! And when it comes to winemaking there is no set style, there are myriad. It is truly a region to discover in that sense; and thankfully the 'Parker' years of high extraction and oak influence seem to be behind us.

My zeal for this appellation began long ago and was first centred around the famous Chateau Rayas and Henri Bonneau; I later learnt that there was indeed a third musketeer....

Domaine du Banneret was founded in 1989 by Jean-Claude Vidal, an architect who left his urban career in Toulouse to revive family vineyards dating back to 1405, the Domaine embodies a passion-driven transition from city life to rural craftsmanship.

Vidal initially vinified his first vintages in borrowed barrels at the cellar of legendary winemaker Henri Bonneau, adding a layer of mystique and connection to Châteauneuf's old greats. And at Banneret too, you could not get more traditional - all 13 grapes are used, fermented together, the freshness and elegance this brings is incredible.

These days, after Henri Bonneau’s passing in 2016, his influence continued through Audrey Vidal, Jean-Claude’s daughter, who took over in 2014. Audrey has maintained the traditional methods Bonneau inspired, such as organic/biodynamic practices and long aging, while adding her own precision and energy.

The wines today are quite hard to find, and I have been trying to purchase from them for many years and visits, this shipment is the first. Stylistically I am in love, they are rare, delicate and quite beautiful