In our pursuit of unique, bottle-aged offerings sourced directly from top domaines, we fell head over heels for this under-the-radar Châteauneuf-du-Pape special cuvée, introduced to us by one of our trusted import partners. The 2018 Domaine des 3 Cellier “Marceau” is a soulful stunner—not showcasing Grenache, the Southern Rhône’s banner grape, but instead highlighting the distinctive Mourvèdre, which, when aged, emits irresistible notes of blackberry, cassis, leather, sweet tobacco, and savory herbs.
Joe Czerwinski, Rhône contributor for The Wine Advocate, awarded it 95 points, calling it “Exotically perfumed” and “supple and silky.” We couldn’t agree more.
This cuvée is built on a bold blend of 50% Mourvèdre and 30% Grenache, with the remaining 20% split between Counoise and Vaccarèse. Less than 5% of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines feature Mourvèdre as the dominant grape, and the most notable examples are easily double the price (see snapshot below). After five years of bottle age at the winery, this wine is now in its prime drinking window, purring with Mediterranean seductiveness.
What sets this apart? Not all Châteauneuf-du-Papes perform at this stage of maturity—many suffer from over-ripeness. But this 2018 holds its own beautifully after 30 to 60 minutes of air time, revealing layers of elegance and depth.
This direct-from-the-domaine acquisition is limited and available exclusively to our VIP members. Discover why we were so smitten with this hidden gem. We secured the final cachet from the importer—and with tiered pricing, there’s extra incentive to stock up. This is the perfect wine to serve over the holiday season with friends and family. À votre santé !
Notable Mourvèdre-Dominant Examples:
(Percentages vary with the vintage. Pricing for the library 2018 vintage based on Wine-Searcher data.)
Château de Beaucastel – 30 to 35% - Retail Average: $125
Saint Préfert “Collection Charles Giraud” – 40% - Retail Average: $120
Clos des Papes – 20 to 25% - Retail Average: $115.00
Domaine des 3 Cellier “Marceau” – 50% - Under $60 & Ex-Domaine!
Press Accolades:
95 Points, Wine Advocate:
“Exotically perfumed, with hints of cherries, stone fruit, vanilla, sandalwood, roses and garrigue, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Marceau boasts a striking bouquet. It's full-bodied and voluptuous on the palate, supple and silky, then picks up hints of dark chocolate on the lingering, elegant finish. A blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 10% each Counoise and Vaccarèse, with a portion of the wine matured in barriques and the rest in foudres, this is a terrific effort from a certified organic domaine that seems to have been re-energized during the past few vintages.” - Joe Czerwinski, Sept. 2020
