Chateauneuf du Pape 2012

Clos des Papes

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Tasting Notes
Tasted from multiple foudres, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is stunning! Showing surprising depth and concentration in the vintage, with full-bodied richness and texture, all of the samples showed perfumed, complex aromatics, fantastic mid-palates and serious back-end structure. Less forward than the 2011, with plenty of oomph, it will most likely require short-term cellaring to come around, and have a broad drink window. One of the benchmark estates, Clos des Papes covers close to 90 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape and is run by the incredibly talented Paul-Vincent Avril. Favoring a single cuvee, his Chateauneuf du Pape is always a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre 10% Syrah and the rest a mix of Vaccarese, Counoise and Muscardin. No new oak is used in the winery and all new barrels and foudre see three vintages of his non-vintage Le Petit Vin d’Avril before being used for his grand vin. Starting out, the two non-vintage Le Petit Vin d’Avril are both beautifully made (the vines are farmed just like Paul-Vincent Chateauneuf du Pape terroirs and the yields are miniscule) and well worth checking out. Score: 95 - 98 Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 31 October 2015
Moving to the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape, this is a vintage that’s loved by Paul-Vincent, and one that he compares to 2005. Hitting 15.4% alcohol, it has gorgeous richness and depth, with the hallmark elegance of the estate. Kirsch, blackberry, licorice, spice and floral notes all emerge from the glass, and it builds on the palate with superb concentration, integrated acidity and sweet tannin. Paul-Vincent commented that he thinks this will close down quickly. Nevertheless its balance, tannin and overall equilibrium will keep it drinking nicely through 2032. As always, I had a great visit with Paul-Vincent Avril, and he continues to fashion one of the most elegant and seamless wines in the appellation. Yields here remain absolutely miniscule, with 2012 coming in at an average of 18 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2013s even smaller, at a bankrupt inducing level of 13.5 hectoliters per hectare. His 2012 is certainly one of the shinning successes in the vintage, and his 2013 should also be outstanding, with a Burgundian-like texture and acid profile. Score: 96 Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017 - 2032 31 October 2014
Opaque ruby. Smoky blueberry and cherry compote aromas pick up a peppery nuance with air, along with a suave floral quality. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors and a hint of lavender pastille. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the juicy, penetrating finish, which is framed by supple, slow-building tannins. Score: 94 Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2030 01 April 2015
Tasted in three components, from three different foudres, followed by a hypothetical final blend that Avril has assembled in its own foudre. #1 (80% grenache, 10% syrah and the rest all the other varieties): Intense red fruit and floral scents, with a bright mineral overtone. Silky and fruit-driven, offering sweet raspberry liqueur and lavender flavors and a touch of white pepper. Spicy and precise, with serious finishing power. This is carrying 15.7% alcohol. #2) (70% grenache, 20% syrah and 10% mourvedre): Deeper and darker in character than #1, offering bitter cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors and a touch of licorice. A sexy floral note dominates the finish, which is smooth, focused and long. #3 (55% grenache, 40% mourvedre and 5% counoise): Exotic black and blue fruit compote on the nose, with a smoky note gaining power with air. Rich and energetic, finishing with excellent clarity and thrust. A hypothetical final blend: Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of dark berry preserves, potpourri, anise and spicecake, with a zesty mineral topnote. Juicy, focused and penetrating, offering sweet black raspberry and floral pastille flavors and a strong mineral undertone. Closes spicy and long, with smooth tannins folding smoothly into the fruit. Score: 93 - 95 Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com 01 January 2014

Tasting Notes

Tasted from multiple foudres, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is stunning! Showing surprising depth and concentration in the vintage, with full-bodied richness and texture, all of the samples showed perfumed, complex aromatics, fantastic mid-palates and serious back-end structure. Less forward than the 2011, with plenty of oomph, it will most likely require short-term cellaring to come around, and have a broad drink window. One of the benchmark estates, Clos des Papes covers close to 90 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape and is run by the incredibly talented Paul-Vincent Avril. Favoring a single cuvee, his Chateauneuf du Pape is always a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre 10% Syrah and the rest a mix of Vaccarese, Counoise and Muscardin. No new oak is used in the winery and all new barrels and foudre see three vintages of his non-vintage Le Petit Vin d’Avril before being used for his grand vin. Starting out, the two non-vintage Le Petit Vin d’Avril are both beautifully made (the vines are farmed just like Paul-Vincent Chateauneuf du Pape terroirs and the yields are miniscule) and well worth checking out.

Score: 95 - 98

Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 31 October 2015

Moving to the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape, this is a vintage that’s loved by Paul-Vincent, and one that he compares to 2005. Hitting 15.4% alcohol, it has gorgeous richness and depth, with the hallmark elegance of the estate. Kirsch, blackberry, licorice, spice and floral notes all emerge from the glass, and it builds on the palate with superb concentration, integrated acidity and sweet tannin. Paul-Vincent commented that he thinks this will close down quickly. Nevertheless its balance, tannin and overall equilibrium will keep it drinking nicely through 2032. As always, I had a great visit with Paul-Vincent Avril, and he continues to fashion one of the most elegant and seamless wines in the appellation. Yields here remain absolutely miniscule, with 2012 coming in at an average of 18 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2013s even smaller, at a bankrupt inducing level of 13.5 hectoliters per hectare. His 2012 is certainly one of the shinning successes in the vintage, and his 2013 should also be outstanding, with a Burgundian-like texture and acid profile.

Score: 96

Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017 - 2032 31 October 2014

Opaque ruby. Smoky blueberry and cherry compote aromas pick up a peppery nuance with air, along with a suave floral quality. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors and a hint of lavender pastille. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the juicy, penetrating finish, which is framed by supple, slow-building tannins.

Score: 94

Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2030 01 April 2015

Tasted in three components, from three different foudres, followed by a hypothetical final blend that Avril has assembled in its own foudre. #1 (80% grenache, 10% syrah and the rest all the other varieties): Intense red fruit and floral scents, with a bright mineral overtone. Silky and fruit-driven, offering sweet raspberry liqueur and lavender flavors and a touch of white pepper. Spicy and precise, with serious finishing power. This is carrying 15.7% alcohol. #2) (70% grenache, 20% syrah and 10% mourvedre): Deeper and darker in character than #1, offering bitter cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors and a touch of licorice. A sexy floral note dominates the finish, which is smooth, focused and long. #3 (55% grenache, 40% mourvedre and 5% counoise): Exotic black and blue fruit compote on the nose, with a smoky note gaining power with air. Rich and energetic, finishing with excellent clarity and thrust. A hypothetical final blend: Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of dark berry preserves, potpourri, anise and spicecake, with a zesty mineral topnote. Juicy, focused and penetrating, offering sweet black raspberry and floral pastille flavors and a strong mineral undertone. Closes spicy and long, with smooth tannins folding smoothly into the fruit.

Score: 93 - 95

Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com 01 January 2014

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