2012 Chateau Sixtine Chateauneuf-du-Pape is sold out.

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Vintage Classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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  • 94 pts Wine Spectator
    94 pts WS
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2012 Chateau Sixtine Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750 ml

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Shipping included on orders $150+.
  • Curated by unrivaled experts
  • Choose your delivery date
  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

“Visionary” Winemaker Hits A 94pt Home Run

“Visionary” Winemaker Hits A 94pt Home Run

The deeply concentrated bloom of a historic house, this is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape deal of the vintage. Wine Spectator, highly bullish on the CdP ’12s, pinned 94 points on this Château Sixtine, calling it “an intense red, with cascading layers,” of dark fruit and spice. Today, fourth-generation winemaker Jean Marc Diffonty is releasing some of the greatest wines ever to come out of Château Sixtine. An “innovative visionary” according to Robert Parker, Diffonty has successfully modernized the ancient property, turning out voluptuous blends of flowing elegance and fine-grained tannins — never more so than in the knockout 2012 vintage. Just 65 cases for lovers of classic CdP.

Jean Marc took the business over from his father, Félicien — a charismatic if grumpy local character who served as mayor of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for three decades. A member of the old-guard, Félicien’s winemaking style had grown rigid. Jean Marc sought new expressions for the storied estate, employing temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, drastically lowering yields, and experimenting with new oak. In 2012, these measures resulted in an instant classic.  

A watershed vintage, 2012 in Southern Rhône had vignerons practically jumping for joy.  The season started out cold but by early summer had warmed significantly. Ripening accelerated, tempered by rainfall and cool nights, as the old vines across Château Sixtine’s 37 acres produced tiny berries of awesome power and freshness.

Open up now and linger over a mesmerizing, floral-scented aromatic profile that evolves for 2+ hours, or put this brooding beauty to rest for another 15 years.