Stéphane Vedeau makes wine for true wine lovers. We adore his manifesto so much, we must bold it: “For free spirits seeking the purity and truth of a terroir, who prefer balance over ripeness, who desire a sense of freshness and prioritize harmony, who wish to rediscover the Rhône Valley from a new perspective. For them, we make wine.”

This former soccer player turned winemaker didn't take the easy path. After 15 years honing his craft in the Languedoc, he arrived in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2000 with a vision: make CDP that drinks like Burgundy. Not the extracted, porty monsters, wine of elegance that makes you want a second glass.

His “Vendange” bottling comes from small terraces on the northeast (Courthézon) sector of the appellation—not the famous plateau with its heat-radiating galets roulés, but a cooler site where safres (sandy soils) let Grenache express fruit fully. It's 80% Grenache with 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, farmed biodynamically since 2011, certified organic since 2014.

Parker saw Vedeau’s talent from the beginning, calling Vedeau one of the “young, energetic Turks of Châteauneuf-du-Pape” who “emerged from the woodwork to produce stunning wines.” That was almost 20 years ago. Today, with properties including Clos Bellane and Val des Rois under his belt, Vedeau isn't emerging anymore. He's arrived, at least in our book.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

• The Chambolle of Châteauneuf: When Parker said “If Chambolle-Musigny were made in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this would be it,” he meant that this style is gorgeously perfumed with little red berries, gingerbread, and spice cake, and it’s delicate and powerful all at once. That’s what made this wine so irresistible to us.
  

• Perfect Maturity at 8 Years:This 2017 is drinking gorgeously right now—still fresh and vibrant but with that magical secondary complexity starting to emerge, like anise, dried herbs, forest floor, and that intoxicating, complex garrigue note.
  

• Biodynamic Soul: There’s life in this wine, and a sense of purity, that careful biodynamic farming had a hand in.
  

• Incredible price: Find another library vintage, biodynamic CDP from a Parker-anointed star for under $50. We'll wait. Most cult CDP starts at $100 and climbs from there. At $42 on a six-pack, this is our CDP value of the year. 

HOW TO SERVE IT

• Decant for 15 minutes if you're opening it tonight—just enough air to let those aromatics bloom. Serve around 58-62°F, cooler than you think.
  

• Killer with rack of lamb, but try it with duck confit or mushroom gratin.
  

• Drink now through 2028. It's gorgeous today, but if you can keep your hands off a few bottles, you'll be rewarded with even more complexity.