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Chateauneuf-du-Pape

With a succession of excellent vintages since 2003, the 2007 vintage marks a high point for Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Called the "vintage of my lifetime for this region" by Robert Parker, he goes on to state, "throughout the southern Rhone, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region." (Wine Advocate #179, October 2008) Yes, this vintage surpasses the firmly structured 2005 vintage (which, based on recent tasting, needs more time to strut its stuff) and while the string of great vintages for this region seem to keep coming, 2008 definitely ends the streak.

2007 is a vintage not to be missed and still offers real value relative to other top wine regions of the world. Here are a selection of top Chateauneuf-du-Pape to be enjoyed or cellared.

Clos des Papes SOLD OUT
$124.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (98-100)

After tasting the 2006, I was wondering how the 2007 could match it. Well,Vincent Avril asked me how much time I had, and since it was my last appointment of the day, I told him I was totally free, so we basically tasted through just about every foudre in the cellar before moving to the final blend of all the component parts. Vincent Avril was flashing one smile after another as we methodically worked through the foudres. The lowest score I gave any of them was (95-98), and virtually all of them were coming in between 97 and 100 points. I’ll go out on a relatively safe limb and state that I believe the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is the greatest Clos des Papes I have ever tasted! The fact that there should be around 100,000 bottles produced is music to my ears since the biggest complaint I hear about most of the top wines in this journal is that they are always made in such limited quantities. The 2007 will end up with a finished alcohol of about 15.5% and a pH of about 3.8. The average yields for this vintage were slightly higher than in 2006, about 24 hectoliters per hectare, which is essentially under 2 tons of fruit per acre. The 2007 reveals all the characteristics that make Clos des Papes so special, including extraordinary elegance, remarkable complexity in the black raspberry, kirsch, truffle, meaty, Provencal herbaceousness, full-bodied palate, voluptuous, silky tannins, and mind-boggling richness and length. Nothing is out of place, and there are no hard edges in this beautiful Chateauneuf du Pape. The vintage’s cool growing conditions have given the wine a freshness to go along with its substantial size and power. This monumental Chateauneuf is a tour de force in winemaking. It should be relatively accessible in 3-4 years, and evolve along the lines of the 1978, only the 2007 has more to it, so expect it to last at least 30 years. Not to be missed! I have participated in so many exceptional tastings with Paul Avril that it is difficult for me to accept that his brilliant son, Vincent, may be eclipsing the work of his father. Vincent, trained in Burgundy, appears to be pushing things to an even higher level of quality. Nothing has changed in these cellars; everything is still as traditional as you will find. All the wines are kept in foudre, and the red Chateauneuf du Pape blend is one of only a handful in the appellation that contains increasing amounts of Muscardin, Vaccarese, and Counoise along with 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and some Syrah.

Related Products:

Vieux Donjon
$66.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (94-96)

The three component parts of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, Syrah from the estate’s holdings in Pialons, old vine Grenache from sandy terroirs, and Mourvedre, are all brilliant, hence the estimated rating of (94-96). The wine reveals a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of camphor, licorice, graphite, sweet red and black fruits, smoked meats, and a hint of charcoal. Full-bodied and pure with plenty of Provencal garrigue and meaty characters, this superb, chewy red should turn out to be their finest effort since the 1998 and 1990. It is a classic, traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape to drink between 2013-2026.

Pierre Usseglio
$63.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (90-93)

Made from the same blend as the 2006, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape possesses a dense ruby/purple hue as well as wonderfully sweet aromas of blue and black fruits, underbrush, truffles, incense, and garrigue. It is full-bodied, opulent, fleshy, powerful and substantial in the mouth. The Usseglios told me they had a couple of lots that went into this wine that hit nearly 17% natural alcohol! This was not caused by spiking high temperatures (which the Southern Rhone did not experience in 2007), but rather by the extraordinarily low yields and severe drought conditions that existed from spring through the end of September. What a superlative performance from proprietors Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio. This is one of the few estates where the 2006s are so great that they eclipse their brilliant 2005s, and come very close to what was accomplished in 2007. 2007 is another stunning success from brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio.

Domaine de la Janasse
$64.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (93-96)

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is Sabon’s finest example of this cuvee I have yet tasted. It boasts a fabulous blue/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, incense, and spice. Deep, full-bodied, and multilayered with excellent purity, depth, and length, it should drink beautifully for 20 years.

Vieux Telegraphe
$79.99

"Here is a vintage that has already been much written about. The reds are truly superb. What we have is a rare vintage in the style of 1998 and 2005. What is surprising is the consistency of the cuvées and a kind of natural concentration. Vieux Télégraphe is very complex—spicy and smoky with garrigue herbs. It is deep and rich with a long, noble finish. It has a rare generosity to it." Daniel Brunuier, winemaker, Vieux Telegraphe

While the 2007 Vieux Telegraphe has not yet been reviewed, for the vintages Daniel Brunier referenced, Robert Parker rated 1998 93 points and 2005 95+ points for Vieux Telegraphe.

Domaine Giraud Tradition
$45.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (90-93)

The deep ruby/purple, full-bodied 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape offers gorgeously sweet notes of charcoal, black raspberries, cherries, licorice, and a hint of high class cigar tobacco. It should age effortlessly for 12-15+ years. Brilliant oenologist, Philippe Cambie, has completely resurrected this estate, where he is now turning out some of the most extraordinary wines of the appellation, with the old vine Les Grenaches de Pierre an outstanding clone of Rayas. That's not surprising in view of the fact that it comes from the pure sandy soils near Rayas. The traditional cuvee is aged in tank and old barrels, and represents a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre.

Domaine Monpertuis Cuvee Tradition
$50.99

The Domaine de Monpertuis has been in the hands of the Jeune family for several generations. Each successor has added bits and pieces of vineyards to the expanding whole of the estate so that the current owner, Paul Jeune, is now the proprietor of the 10 acres of vines that are scattered amongst 32 separate parcels throughout the confines of Chateauneuf du Pape. Jeune has the remarkable good fortune of having a majority of his vineyards planted to vines between 60 and 110 years of age. The multiplicity of parcels spread across Chateauneuf imparts a classic character to the wines of Monpertuis, absorbing the nuances of each soil type of the appellation. However, the heart and soul of the domaine lies within three primary parcels: La Croze, Le Clos de la Cerise, and Monpertuis. Although Chateauneuf du Pape may be composed of 13 individual varietals, the Domaine de Monpertuis relies most heavily on the Grenache grape. The "Cuvee Classique" blend normally is based on 70-85% Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault providing the balance.

The 2007 vintage is not yet rated. 2005: 95 pts., Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Paul Autard
$39.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (90-93)

The opaque ruby/purple-colored 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up beautiful, sweet black raspberry and kirsch fruit, tremendous opulence, and a sexy, gamy character. Layered, sumptuous, and long in the mouth with excellent purity and freshness, it should drink effortlessly for 10-15 years. This gorgeous portfolio from proprietor Paul Autard includes a classically-styled traditional cuvee, a Cuvee la Cote Ronde, a decidedly modern-styled Chateauneuf du Pape, and the newest offering, the blockbuster Cuvee Juline which, despite the use of barriques for aging, is very much in the traditional school. The 2007s are all brilliant.

Roger Sabon Cuvee Reservee
$53.99

Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
Rating: (90-93)

The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve is one of the finest yet made by the Sabons. Deep ruby/purple with notes of root vegetables, figs, tobacco leaf, roasted meats, kirsch liqueur, and black currants, this is a broad, deep, substantial, long, heady Chateauneuf that should evolve for 15 or more years. Proprietor Jean-Jacques Sabon and the other younger family members are taking these wines to even greater quality heights than previously attained. The new vintages possess updated, more polished labels, but more importantly, the wines continue to go from what were very strong efforts in the past, to even deeper concentration, complexity, and depth. All four cuvees are now routinely outstanding, with the top two offerings, the Cuvee Prestige and the limited production Le Secret des Sabon, compelling Chateauneufs. As with many estates, the 2007s exhibit the vintage’s succulent, juicy, incredibly pure fruit and tremendous freshness and vivacity, all packed into substantial, full-bodied wines with surprisingly high alcohols given their vibrancy. One might expect such greatness in 2007 in Chateauneuf du Pape, but the Sabons have also hit the heights in the excellent 2006 vintage. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC