Our Rating
Southern Rhône
Grenache-led Southern Rhône blend
Although the domaine is based in Bédarrides, this cuvée draws from long-held parcels inside Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The house style is traditional and terroir-first, ripe fruit, savory detail, and élevage designed to polish, not mask, the vineyard voice. Core specs, parcel names, and vinification choices are summarized on the official CdP page.
Château Mont-Thabor traces its roots back to the 17th century, with the modern era guided by the Stehelin family; today Fanny Stehelin and Vincent Brémond lead the winery (see the estate’s story timeline). The shift from bulk wine to estate bottling and the expansion into neighboring appellations are documented across the site. Current communications emphasize eco-minded farming and restrained cellar work as part of the identity.
Fruit comes from roughly 5 ha across Pied Redon, Croix de Bois, and Valori—a trio listed in the estate’s tech sheet. These sites mix galets roulés and red sandy clays, with pockets of red slate/sands, all characteristic CdP terroirs explained on the growers’ soil & vineyard map. Old-vine Grenache (≈80 years) anchors the blend, with Syrah and Mourvèdre/Cinsault contributing color, spice, and structure.
Harvesting is by hand with parcel sorting. Syrah is destemmed and worked (remontage/délestage/pigeage), while other varieties ferment whole-cluster with native yeasts for ~three weeks in cement—all specified in the estate’s tech sheet. Élevage typically splits ~2/3 in seasoned barrels (no new wood) and ~1/3 in tank, keeping oak flavor in the background as texture.
Independent reports describe 2021 as a cooler, weather-challenged year that nonetheless produced fresher, earlier-drinking profiles at careful estates. The official growers’ site provides broad terroir framing and AOC rules that help contextualize the style shift versus hotter recent years (see CdP overview). In short, 2021 trades some sheer power for lift and clarity, which suits Mont-Thabor’s restrained cellar approach.
Appearance. Deep ruby with high clarity and a viscous rim—visual cues for a full-bodied, structured CdP. The saturated core suggests concentration without opacity.
Aromas. Pronounced black cherry, blackberry, and strawberry ride over cigar-box/oak and anise tones; a light smoke thread emerges with air. Alcohol reads medium(+) but folds into the dark-fruit core.
Palate. Dry and full-bodied with a firm feel; flavors track black cherry, black currant, blackberry, and strawberry, framed by cigar-box spice and a gentle smoky echo. The structure leans on fruit density and tannin rather than brisk acidity.
Finish. Long and clean, with savory spice lingering over the black-fruit core. The balance is classic and food-versatile.
Mont-Thabor 2021 favors poise over bravado: dark fruit is trimmed by cedar and smoke, the mid-palate stays sleek, and the finish snaps back to clean stone and spice. It reads like a confident, classic CdP that rewards attention without demanding it.
France
Southern Rhône
Grenache-led Southern Rhône blend
15.8%
Daniel Stehlin
90 Minutes
Now - 2034
Château Mont-Thabor
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