2020 Santa Duc Les Saintes Vierges Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone

A beautiful blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Counoise. Detail and freshness on the nose, showing primarily herbs, flowers and spices, but it's very young still. This has intensity, concentration, depth, vibrancy and lovely acidity. There's real impact and intensity, with searching, pixelated tannins and a fresh finish that fans out across the palate. Very smart, subtle oak work. Excellent. So fresh and vibrant. Big but drinkable, with wonderful tension. Should age well. Grown on sandy soils, partly destemmed, fermented in concrete, aged in large foudres and amphorae. Drink: 2025 - 2035

 97 points Matt Walls decanter.com November 2024

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Saintes Vierges comes all from the Les Saintes Vierges lieu-dit and is based on 80% Grenache and 10% each of Mourvedre and Counoise. It was partially destemmed and brought up mostly in foudre with 10% in clay jars. Wild strawberries, darker berries, violets, and an incredible floral, almost tropical nuance on the nose gives way to a medium-bodied, elegant, vibrant effort with a sappy green edge in its tannins that avoids being astringent or off-putting. This fresh, elegant, perfumed beauty will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink nicely for a decade.

While located in Gigondas, Domaine Santa Duc, now under the helm of Benjamin Gras, releases a bevy of outstanding Châteauneuf du Pape that are based on different terroirs in the appellation. The wines see a touch of whole cluster fermentation and the aging is primarily in foudre, with some of the wines seeing clay jars aging as well. These show vibrant, fresh, almost crunchy profiles that I suspect will benefit from a handful of years in the cellar.

93-94 points jebdunnuck.com

From a sandy vineyard situated in a part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape called Les Saintes Vierges. Old Vine Grenache 64%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 10%, Counoise 1%. Aged In recent casks (foudres) and terracotta jars for 18 months.