Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Les Cailloux", Andre Brunel, FR, 2022

Professional Ratings

Style & Tasting Profile

The 2022 vintage is a warm, ripe year in the Southern Rhône, and Les Cailloux reflects that vintage character while maintaining freshness:

• Aromas of black currant, plum, dried herbs, orange peel, roasted meat, mushroom, and garrigue-like savory notes.
• Medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a notably silky texture.
• More polished and approachable in youth than many traditionally styled Châteauneuf-du-Papes, yet structured enough for cellaring.
• No new oak influence; aged in concrete, allowing terroir and fruit purity to dominate.

Drinking Window

• Drink now: Yes, with decanting.
• Optimal: 2028–2037.
• Potential longevity: 12–15+ years depending on storage.

Overall Assessment

The 2022 Les Cailloux is receiving scores mostly in the 94–95 point range, which is excellent territory for a standard-bottling Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Critics consistently praise its combination of:

• ripe Rhône fruit,
• savory complexity,
• polished tannins,
• and balance despite the warm vintage.

For buyers seeking a classic, traditionally made Châteauneuf-du-Pape under the prestige-cuvée price tier, this is widely viewed as one of the stronger values from the 2022 Rhône vintage.