ANDRE BRUNEL LES CAILLOUX
RHÔNE VALLEY, FRANCE 2022
WHY BUY: These two wines — from 30- and 60-year-old vines, and from a winemaking family whose roots reach all the way back to the 17th century — are the quintessence, for us, of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 95-pointer is a big, bold wine, but it unfolds with grace, is aromatically resonant (that deep, hauntingly spicy perfume that André Brunel is known for), and has the depth and length to both seduce us and hold us. If you’re a Cabernet lover, and not particularly versed in the magic of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, these wines amount to a fantastic entry point, and a chance to make one of the great discoveries in the world of wine.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “A seductive, textural and well-crafted blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre,” James Suckling wrote of 'Les Cailloux' Rouge 2022, in his 95-point assessment. “So velvety and refined on the palate. Poised and complete with a bright, succulent and long finish.” White wines seldom move the critics to such heights, but Suckling hailed the Blanc, in a 93-point review, as "a well-crafted, precise, balanced and flavorful Châteauneuf-du-Pape white with dried lemons, wild herbs, pebbles and mild spices." He praised its "silky texture" and "delicious pear pie and sweet almond character to the vivid finish.”
OUR TASTING NOTES: The 2024 Blanc showcases everything brilliant about André Brunel's precision-driven approach: predominantly Roussanne with Clairette and Grenache, it opens with those telltale Châteauneuf minerals and wild herbs before unveiling layers after gorgeous layers of citrus and stone fruit. The grapes were harvested in early morning and immediately pressed to preserve their freshness, and it has made for a vital, energetic expression that's eminently quaffable. Yet all the same there's serious structure underneath, thanks in large part to those 30-year-old vines. The 2022 Rouge delivers that classic CDP magic: 60-year-old Grenache vines provide the backbone, while Mourvèdre adds depth and Syrah rounds things out beautifully. Eighteen months in stainless steel keeps the fruit pure and vibrant.
THE STORY: The Brunel family's winemaking history stretches back to the 17th century with the purchase of a vineyard plot from the Bishop of Avignon, but it was André who transformed the estate into a Châteauneuf-du-Pape legend. A mathematician who taught school in his twenties before returning home to make wine, André brought scientific precision to ancient traditions, becoming one of the first in the region to embrace eco-farming and tailored ground cover methods decades before they became the fashion. In 1954, his father Lucien created the name 'Les Cailloux' ("the pebbles") to celebrate the estate's unique terroir of large stones covering the vineyards—a feature that has since come to define top sites within the appellation. When André took over in 1971, his relentless drive for quality resulted in steady expansion and the introduction of legendary cuvées. The wine world lost a giant when André passed away three years ago, but his extraordinary legacy lives on under his son Fabrice, a fifth-generation winemaker who continues the family's meticulous approach in both vineyard and winery.
THE TERROIR: The 'Les Cailloux' vineyard is composed of multiple plots, each contributing its own personality to these wines. Bois de la Ville and Serres feature poor, highly filtering gravel beds that produce intensely concentrated juice; Farguerol and Cansaud boast red and blue clays that deliver extreme aromatic richness; while Cabrières and Revès add chalky limestone that provides structure and length on the palate.
FUN FACT: In 1933, Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, a former WWI fighter pilot turned jurist, helped establish the rules defining Châteauneuf-du-Pape that later became the foundation for France's entire AOC system. He was convinced that great wine could come only from marginal soils where lavender and thyme thrived.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st - Aug. 20th, 2026). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025.