Château Mont Thabor – Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape 2020
Chateau Mont Thabor is owned and managed by Daniel Stehlin today. Daniel Stehlin owns more than Mont Thabor, he also possesses one of the best mustaches in the Southern Rhone Valley. The creation of Mont Thabor dates back to the late 1800’s when it was purchased by the Stehelin family. The estate took its name from Don Prenety, who was inspired by the Illumines of Avignon in the early 1800’s. Prior to becoming a winery, Mont Thabor was used as a combination of a mystic retreat and a hotel. The modern era at Chateau Mont Thabor starts with the 2000 vintage.
Chateau Mont Thabor Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking
Mont Thabor has 4 hectares of vines in Chateauneuf du Pape on a terroir of mostly rocks and stones with some red clay in the soil. The vines are planted in the Croix de Bois and Pied Redon lieux-dits.
The wine of Chateau Mont Thabor Chateauneuf du Pape is made from a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and close to 2.5% Mourvedre and 2.5% Cinsault. The Grenache vines are old at close to 75 years of age. The grapes are not destemmed. Vinification takes place in traditional concrete tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine of Mont Thabor is aged in a combination of 70% used, French oak barrels and cement vats. Not much wine is made here. The production is on average close to 400 cases per year.
Serving and Decanting Chateau Mont Thabor with Wine, Food Pairing Tips
Mont Thabor is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Young vintages can be popped and poured, or decanted for an hour so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Mont Thabor is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage and cassoulet. Chateau Mont Thabor is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant and tomatoes.
The white wine of Chateau Mont Thabor is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.
Chateau Mont Thabor also owns 6 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation. In the Cotes du Rhone, Chateau Mont Thabor produces both red and white wines. Sweet cherry and garrigue filled the air. The wine offers ample richness, intensity and lush textures and ample freshness. Produced from a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault, the wine reached 15.9% alcohol.
