2020 Bonpas Grande Reserve des Challieres Ventoux 750 ml

Nothing pays dividends quite like a knowledge of the Rhône’s lesser-known appellations.

We count Ventoux among them. 

The AOC, nestled in the shadow of Mont Ventoux in France’s Southern Rhône, delivers rich, fruit-driven reds—no surprise, coming from the region world-famous for Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. But Ventoux’s elevation towers over Châteauneuf and even that of Gigondas, which translate to gorgeously ripe red wines revved up with shot-in-the-arm vivacity. All that in addition to the spice and garrigue that characterize all great wines of the Southern Rhône, of course.

The 2020 Bonpas Grande Reserve des Challieres Ventoux was grown in an OUTSTANDING Southern Rhône harvest that handed out tannin, color, concentration, and acidity in huge proportions, supercharging the region’s releases. It comes from Jean-Charles Boisset, the French-born Napa Valley vintner and man-about-town who has been honored with Wine Enthusiast’s Person of the Year. It’s a fantastic bottle from a big-time player in the business.

We discovered it at the home of another French expat, one who holds a famous-in-the-industry party every year. Centering on the bistro staple of duck confit (we call the party Confit-Fête), this shindig is where some of the best winemakers in Napa Valley open some of their most characterful French bottles—especially those that will dance with the melt-in-your-mouth savoriness of a vrai duck confit. 

With its deep, dark ruby-purple core, aromas of blackberry and plum touched with fresh-cracked black pepper and tobacco, and lush palate with lifted acidity, this bottle hit the bullseye. We left that night with a full belly, a cool buzz, and a note to grab this wine for our members.