From Châteauneuf du Pape: The Lively 2013s and Lush 2012s (Apr 2015) by Josh Raynolds
This domain, owned by Burgundy-based winemakers Mounir and Rotem Saouma is one of the most exciting new stories in the southern Rhône Valley. Burgundy lovers (mostly well-heeled ones) are by now acquainted with Saouma’s Lucien LeMoine reds and whites, which are among Burgundy’s most perfumed and downright sexy wines. The bloodline is quite clear in the couple’s Châteauneufs, which share the finesse and intense fruit of their Burgundies and show a purity that’s pretty uncommon for wines from the southern Rhône. Extended élevage is the rule here, with some wines resting in casks and/or amphoras for up to four years before bottling, a process that Mounir Saouma believes helps to round out the rough tannins that routinely occur due to the thick skins of grapes grown in such a hot region.
- Rotem & Mounir Saouma Omnia 2013 (93-95)
- Rotem & Mounir Saouma Omnia 2012 93
- Rotem & Mounir Saouma Arioso 2012 95
- Rotem & Mounir Saouma Arioso 2011 94
2013 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Omnia Vivid ruby. Explosive red berry liqueur, incense and Asian spice scents show superb clarity, with hints of floral oils and minerals providing additional lift. Silky, seamless and concentrated, offering sweet raspberry and cherry compote flavors sharpened by tangy acidity. A powerful yet graceful Châteauneuf with excellent closing focus and thrust. — Josh Raynolds (93-95)
2012 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Omnia Brilliant ruby-red. Fresh cherry and red berry aromas gain spiciness with air, picking up a smoky quality and a hint of potpourri. Juicy and sharply focused, with densely packed raspberry and bitter cherry flavors nicely lifted by zesty acidity. Finishes with excellent persistence, a hint of fine-grained tannins and repeating cherry and smoke notes. — Josh Raynolds 93 ( 2017 – 2024)
2012 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arioso Bright violet color. Intense cherry and dark berry liqueur aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola, Asian spices and smoky minerals. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering deeply concentrated but lively bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors and an invigorating kick of peppery spices. Closes sweet and extremely long, with a hint of bitter chocolate and harmonious, slowly emerging tannins. This beauty shows real Burgundian finesse. — Josh Raynolds 95 (2018 – 2027)
2011 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arioso Saturated ruby. Intensely perfumed, exotic aromas of blackberry and cassis, potpourri, licorice, spicecake and cracked pepper. Sweet, incisive black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors boast excellent depth and vivacity, with juicy acidity providing lift and focus. Supple tannins add shape and grip to the strikingly persistent finish, with the dark berry, licorice and floral notes echoing strongly. — Josh Raynolds 94 (2017 – 2023 )
