Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

Clos des Papes

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Tasting Notes
The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape flirts with perfection. A classic blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, Vaccarese and Counoise, all aged in large foudres in Clos des Papes’s air-conditioned and humidity-controlled wine cellar, the wine boasts a dense purple color along with lots of gorgeously pure black raspberry, black currant and kirsch liqueur notes intermixed with notions of spring flowers, tapenade, licorice and spice box. This dense, full-bodied, powerful Chateauneuf is also remarkably fresh and well-delineated. It even exceeded the 2007 in natural alcohol, coming in at 15.9%. With an extraordinary texture and considerable tannin in the finish, it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age, and is built for 25-30 years of cellaring. Don’t miss it! Score: 99 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2045 01 October 2012
The 2010 looks to be extraordinary. A slightly fresher and more elegant version of the 2007, I think it may well be the greatest Clos des Papes since the 1990 and 1978. The 2010 has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautifully precise and pure nose of deep black raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry notes with some licorice, garrigue, and bouquet garni. Additionally, there is a meaty richness that probably comes from the Mourvedre and Syrah. It is an extraordinarily intense, fresh, lively wine with great finesse and elegance, which is somewhat unusual given the richness of fruit and the power of this wine. The color is a dense ruby/purple, perhaps slightly less opaque than the 2007, but very dark. This wine should evolve for 30+ years. Score: 96 - 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2041+ 01 October 2011
As usual this wine had not been finally assembled but Vincent Avril had made three pre-final ingredients plus a likely final blend. Foudre 1 - 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah. Great weight and ripeness with a certain glossiness of texture. Great power with a satin quality. Tannins are almost imperceptible, so present is the concentration of fruit. Very long. Foudre 2 - This is supposedly his 'new' (fourth year) foudre. 60% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 35% Syrah. Much more severe tannins from the Syrah. Lots of freshness and finesse. Foudre 3 - 60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre. This was the most fascinating sample of all. There was absolutely no evidence of the 16.1% alcohol. No heat on the end. In fact the wine is surprisingly elegant, almost light. Spicy and round, lively, juicy, sappy. Foudre 4 - This is probably the final blend: 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% of other varieties. (The usual blend includes 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, but Mourvèdre was particularly successful in 2010.) Very substantial and handsome, even if much less open than the other ingredients. Intense, meaty, then floral nose even if a tiny bit reduced. The impact of this wine is mainly on the finish. Lots of tannin and clearly made for the future. Very concentrated, crackling but not severe. 15.7% Score: 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030 30 January 2012

Tasting Notes

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape flirts with perfection. A classic blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, Vaccarese and Counoise, all aged in large foudres in Clos des Papes’s air-conditioned and humidity-controlled wine cellar, the wine boasts a dense purple color along with lots of gorgeously pure black raspberry, black currant and kirsch liqueur notes intermixed with notions of spring flowers, tapenade, licorice and spice box. This dense, full-bodied, powerful Chateauneuf is also remarkably fresh and well-delineated. It even exceeded the 2007 in natural alcohol, coming in at 15.9%. With an extraordinary texture and considerable tannin in the finish, it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age, and is built for 25-30 years of cellaring. Don’t miss it!

Score: 99

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2045 01 October 2012

The 2010 looks to be extraordinary. A slightly fresher and more elegant version of the 2007, I think it may well be the greatest Clos des Papes since the 1990 and 1978. The 2010 has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautifully precise and pure nose of deep black raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry notes with some licorice, garrigue, and bouquet garni. Additionally, there is a meaty richness that probably comes from the Mourvedre and Syrah. It is an extraordinarily intense, fresh, lively wine with great finesse and elegance, which is somewhat unusual given the richness of fruit and the power of this wine. The color is a dense ruby/purple, perhaps slightly less opaque than the 2007, but very dark. This wine should evolve for 30+ years.

Score: 96 - 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2041+ 01 October 2011

As usual this wine had not been finally assembled but Vincent Avril had made three pre-final ingredients plus a likely final blend. Foudre 1 - 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah. Great weight and ripeness with a certain glossiness of texture. Great power with a satin quality. Tannins are almost imperceptible, so present is the concentration of fruit. Very long. Foudre 2 - This is supposedly his 'new' (fourth year) foudre. 60% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 35% Syrah. Much more severe tannins from the Syrah. Lots of freshness and finesse. Foudre 3 - 60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre. This was the most fascinating sample of all. There was absolutely no evidence of the 16.1% alcohol. No heat on the end. In fact the wine is surprisingly elegant, almost light. Spicy and round, lively, juicy, sappy. Foudre 4 - This is probably the final blend: 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% of other varieties. (The usual blend includes 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, but Mourvèdre was particularly successful in 2010.) Very substantial and handsome, even if much less open than the other ingredients. Intense, meaty, then floral nose even if a tiny bit reduced. The impact of this wine is mainly on the finish. Lots of tannin and clearly made for the future. Very concentrated, crackling but not severe. 15.7%

Score: 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030 30 January 2012

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