Our Rating
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Red Blend
Château Fortia is one of CdP’s historic estates and the house most closely associated with Baron Pierre Le Roy, whose work helped define France’s appellation law (see Fortia’s profile of the “father of the AOC”). The Cuvée du Baron debuted in 2001 as a tribute and remains the domaine’s Grenache- and Syrah-forward expression. The current vintage is presented on the official cuvée page with stylistic notes that align to a generous, spice-inflected profile.
Fortia’s modern identity was shaped under the Le Roy family, pairing classical CdP methods with rigorous estate standards (see the estate’s history). Across recent releases, the house positions Cuvée du Baron as an approachable yet terroir-expressive bottling that sits between Tradition and Réserve. For the broader appellation context and producers’ syndicate guidance, refer to the official Châteauneuf-du-Pape site.
The wine draws on parcels with galets roulés (rounded quartzite pebbles) over red clays and sands, a mix Fortia highlights on the cuvée page. These soils store daytime heat and release it at night, fostering full ripeness and the cuvée’s plush fruit. For a visual of the terroir mosaic across CdP, the growers’ syndicate provides a detailed soil & vineyard map.
Harvest is conducted entirely by hand with plot sorting, and fruit is ~90% destemmed before fermentation in concrete or stainless (see Fortia’s winemaking method). Maceration typically runs 4–5 weeks for full color and tannin extraction, followed by 18–24 months of cask aging and additional bottle rest in the cellars. The 15.5% ABV declared on the shop listing is consistent with the year’s heat profile.
Fortia characterizes 2022 as the hottest and driest year since 1950, marked by water deficit, hail in June/July/August, and an early harvest ~two weeks ahead of normal (see the vintage note on the cuvée page). The estate describes two profiles: earlier parcels yielding concentrated, warm wines, and later parcels producing supple, elegant wines. For independent background on CdP’s terroir and climate framing, consult the growers’ appellation overview.
Appearance. Deep ruby, high clarity, and pronounced viscosity—visual cues consistent with a full-bodied, ripe vintage. The saturated core suggests concentration without opacity.
Aromas. Plum, black cherry, black currant, and sweet cherry lead, with a touch of raisin from the season’s warmth; oak and a faint smoky accent sit behind the fruit. Alcohol feels high yet remains framed by savory tones.
Palate. Dry, full-bodied, and medium(+) in tannin. The palate tracks black cherry, blueberry, and plum, with oak-derived spice and a light smoke echo reinforcing structure over acidity.
Finish. Long and slightly warm, tapering to savory notes that read tapenade/stone over the dark-fruit core. The overall impression is rich, clean, and clearly Rhône.
A plush, forthright snapshot of a heat-marked year, Cuvée du Baron 2022 leans into ripe black fruit, smoke, and a savory undertow, then signs off on a long, warm line. It’s classic Fortia in boldface—clear terroir character at an accessible price point.
France
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Red Blend
15.5
Sandra Rochel
120 Minutes
Now - 2035
Chateau Fortia
All things wine, and food you could ever need or want — straight to your email!
