Richly flavoured, 93-point flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the Rhône's great Jean-Marc Diffonty The Diffonty family have been in Châteauneuf since the 17th century. First they grew olives and vegetables, only switching the focus to wine in 1902. That was when the family produced, bottled and sold their first vintage. Revolutionary at the time. Since 1993, 4th-generation Jean-Marc has run the estate, with a refreshingly modern approach in the vineyard and the cellar. Viticulture is sustainable and there's a gentle hand to the winemaking. 1998 saw the first release of their flagship wine Château Sixtine. It's crafted from the best grapes of the vintage – Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah from the oldest (50 to 115 years) vines. Fermented, then aged in part new oak, it's a rich, opulent wine that'll cellar well. Alternatively, decant early.
