DOMAINE ANDRE BRUNEL 'LES CAILLOUX'

RHONE VALLEY, FRANCE


 

 

The wine world lost a giant when Andre Brunel died last year, but his extraordinary vintages, thankfully, live on.  

 

We just secured a small allocation of one of his most coveted in recent years: the 98-point 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux Cuvée Centenaire, which, we're here to tell you, more than justifies its gushing acclaim – including an almost awe-struck review from Jeb Dunnuck. "Incredible," he declared it, a "flawlessly-balanced" wine with "ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges ... a perfect example of power with no sensation of weight or heaviness."

 

The secret source of its stunning complexity? The 1.5 hectare plot of Grenache the Brunel family planted in, yes, 1889.

 

The Brunel family estate had been in Châteauneuf-du-Pape since the 18th century, but it was Andre who gave it distinction, not to mention an identity. By limiting yields and returning to ancient, hands-on methods – embracing eco-farming, among others, long before it was trendy – he didn't just elevate the reputation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape; he also produced some of the greatest wines to come out of France over the past 50 years.

 

As monumentally great as the Centenaire is, we couldn't resist reaching deeper into their portfolio – now overseen by Andre's son, Fabrice, a fifth-generation winemaker – to bring you two other standouts: their 94-point Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cailloux Rouge 2020, which James Suckling singled out for its "complex nose," "expansive yet delicate palate," and "very long, silky finish"; and their as-yet-unrated Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cailloux Blanc 2022.

 

Folks, you don't want to sleep on these. This is CDP as you hope it to be – the Platonic ideal, in fact: bold, powerful and lengthy, yet blessed, too, with remarkable delicacy and elegance.

 

But act now – our quantities are limited, and Brunel remains, as ever, a name that sends collectors pouncing..

 

 
 
 

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2023. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. 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. Offer not valid in MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, March 24th, 2023.

*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund.  No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.