La Sousto Châteauneuf-du-Pape red 2020

La Sousto Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 is a cuvée that deserves particular attention: it won 1st Prize at the 2022 Concours de la Saint-Marc in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020 – Cuvées Classiques category, ahead of notable estates including La Bastide Saint Dominique and Pierre Usseglio. This local distinction is especially meaningful, as it rewards the wine in the very heart of the appellation.
La Sousto is deeply rooted in the history of the Barrot family in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The family’s origins trace back to Théodoric Barrot, before his son Lucien Gabriel returned to the village in the 1930s to take over and restore the family vineyard parcels.
The vineyard extends across several sectors of the appellation and benefits from three main soil types: limestone, rounded pebbles and clay. This diversity is one of La Sousto’s defining features, bringing finesse, aromatic richness and depth to the final blend.
The 2020 vintage is composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 1% Cinsault and 1% Vaccarèse. Grenache naturally dominates the wine’s expression, delivering a distinctly Mediterranean character marked by red fruit, spices, garrigue and olive.
Now with several years of bottle ageing, the 2020 offers a wonderful opportunity to discover a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape entering its first stage of maturity.