Did not decant. It opened up after 20 min in the glass, swirling occasionally. From Coravin. First sample. I think it might need a bit more air. Will update when we pull the cork. From a bottle that was kept in the Wine Society cellars in optimal conditions in the last 8 years or so. Cork in top shape for a 16-year old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful! Still some mouth-filling fruit! But surrounded by menthol, garrigue, spice and “old library “ on the nose. The palate is rich, but balanced and the finish is long. Popped and poured and it did not need decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I can’t imagine this getting better because it was just spectacular. Right away, the nose was showing meat, tobacco, and leather, which all showed up on the palette in spades. Just enough fruit left to enjoy, but the wine is well into its secondary and tertiary phases. Tannins are resolved and add just a light touch of grip to keep the wine balanced and beautiful. The acid is medium, but never lacking for this warmer climate wine. Thrilled with how this bottle showed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quite ruby-red, tinge of brown at the edges, a bit cloudy, garrigue and briar notes on the nose, medium-bodied, and not as young or fresh as it once was. Prunier than expected. And it still is hairy enough to spur near-immediate bursts of chest hair!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red, a bit rusty tones; nose not that prominent, a bit of pepper and strawberry; an elegant CdP, medium concentrated body with a nice soft freshness; seems to be at its prime - really delicious (so much different from when it was young - based on previous notes)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS: Clos des Papes (By AH): Beautiful and creamy, not very expressive bouquet with red berries and light herbs and spices. On the palate the same impressions, red berries like strawberries and some cherries, good and fresh acidity, some bitterness and hardly any tannin left. Subtle wine. Nice and easy drinking wine at its peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served blind as part of an informal tasting, this was opened about two hours before we got to it, but not decanted.
Two things were obvious from the first sniff - ripe red fruits and sweaty horse. The brett element didn't completely dominate on the nose, but it was always there. On the palate there was more red fruit and some herbal tones, with a bit of dustiness. The brett didn't become notable until there was a metallic edge on the finish, which I have always picked up on bretty wines. The overall texture of the wine was incredibly smooth to the point of sexy, but then there was the horse. My blind guess was 2012 Southern Rhone Grenache, so not bad at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Small glass around the bonfire. No formal note taken.
I find these "off vintages" of CDP more in my wheelhouse of the more acclaimed high-alcohol vintage. I liked the restraint on this. Integrated darker fruits, black pepper, some cured meats.
In a good spot. Last of three for me and probably near peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A much hyped property, stirring high expectations. Well matured red berries, liquorice, menthol, sous-bois and tobacco aromas. Well structured, but still a bit edgy in an admittedly difficult Rhône year. To be revisited, but probably not improving much more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 75cl, perfect cork. A bottle of impeccable provenance, decanted 1 hour and followed over 2 subsequent hours. Spicy darkish berry fruit on the nose; big entry (15% alc.) unappealingly blockish, thick, lacking the softness or intricacy of texture to bear its considerable sweetness with grace. Mid palate: well, you'd have to like Mourvèdre and frankly after a sugary-sweaty bottle of Ch. Musar 1998 last weekend and this sugary leathery CdP tonight: I think there are other classical Rhône varietals I prefer to dominate a blend. But of course it might soften further, and become texturally more interesting in a couple of years. Right now, food pairing is all: beef roulades in spicy red wine sauce made it taste unflatteringly brickish-sweet; a moment of glory flashed in combination with over-ripe Stilton cheese: lovely garrigue, rosemary and thyme herbs shot through the mid-palate. Perhaps worth a try with rare steak and a rocquefort sauce? Look forward to broaching my stash of the 2004 soon, and seeing if it is any more to my taste than this or the 2003 were. Otherwise, it'll be more Pegau and Beaucastel in the future. 89-90P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has evolved beautifully. Today with an hour in the decanter the 2008 releases a melange of blackberry, raspberry, cracked pepper, fresh thyme and smoked meats.
The palate is medium weight and offers a lot of acidity, clear red fruit profiles and a lot of earthy herbal intensity. Enjoy now. This is nicely in other drinking window.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium bodied, light tannins. PnP, very approachable. Enjoyed without food then an hour later with cheese and crackers. Mourvèdre comes through strongest; Syrah is noticeable but subtle. Leather and dark fruit on the nose. Good length on the flavor. Overall really lovely and appropriately priced at ~$150
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with my prior bottles. Light, lean, and elegant with high toned, spicy, and complex flavors. Would love to do this as a ringer in a Rayas lineup. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP with tacos from an original bottle bought in 2011. This is in a great drinking window. Classic aged CdP profile, full bodied, long finish. No hurry but this may be at its peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No detailed notes from this tasting, except that I didn't love this one. My first Clos des Papes. I have 1 more bottle and I'll wait several more years before having it. This did seem to have lots of life left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over 3 hrs, bottle from secondary market -dark red -moderately expressive grenache-y kirsch and pine -med acidity, med weight some faded somewhat monolithic stony red fruit with noticeable heat carrying a bitter note through to the finish where only med- tannins remain -this bottle not very interesting at this stage as it lacks complexity balance
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As always with Clos des Papes, a lifted, almost perfumed nose of dark fruit, earth and cassis. The palate is tightly-knit and with texture, but depth of fruit is lacking, or rather there is good fruit here but it dries out rather too quickly into an alcohol finish.
The quality of this wine is beyond doubt: whatever it takes to make a good CNP has gone into this. There is no such thing as a bad bottle of Clos des Papes. But this particular wine (from this particular vintage) does not quite hit the mark.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
- 1h decanted - Nose: The nose is characterised by a lot of liquorice, chewing gum, raspberry, vanilla and added christmas spices. Intense nose and only a few tertiary aromas. On closer inspection, the nose is dominated by ripe fruit, which appears cooked and jammy. For me, personally, Almost a bit one-sided. - Mouth: In the mouth, the taste profile is equally aligned: Ripe, cooked fruit. The finish is powerfull and long lasting. Ripe tannins and quite full-bodied. Brute power! Compared to the Bordeaux wines (today also tasted) the finesse and freshness is missing. - As there are few tertiary aromas to be recognised at first, a good 5 years of ageing potential.
91-92P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the tender age of 12 the fruit was bright cherry like almost Pinot and earthy. I don't know what to do with the other bottle when something is so good. Do I dare keep it longer!!
Decanted 2 hours prior dinner for 6, everyone loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shows beautiful age in the color, with a bit of rusty garnet. Nose is medium plus, lacking complexity of the stronger CdP vintages. Sweet red fruits, some earthiness, a bit of cedar. The palate is shy of full but still quite lovely. The more austere minerality is dominating, not quite as balanced out with red and blue fruits as one would hope for a pricey CdP. However, it's still a high quality CdP, just in a less exciting vintage. Ready to drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking extremely well now - near peak. Tannins are now fully developed. Black fruit and hints of pepper. Tertiary flavours starting to develop, but it does not have the body of warmer years to really shine int he long run I think.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet in colour, with rich aroma of rasberries and blackberries, liquorice notes, herbs and roasted meats. Medium bodied, but with a surprising freshness across the palate that even reminded me slightly of a burgundy. I really enjoyed this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Candy shop, dried cherry, potpourri, oak paneling, dried red flower. Haunting and ethereal.
Mouth: A smooth ball of blackberry pates des fruits and black Darjeeling runs up against a flash of Syrah- darkening as melted black licorice and violet stream around. A mix of grilled cherry, bay leaf, thyme, and chalk take the finish. Silk in the mouth, with a light tannic tinge still alive to cap everything off.
Overall: Elegant and complete without being over the hill. Comes in waves, and stays beguiling (if at times bit more rustic than anticipated). A lot of fun all in all, with some room still to run. 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 5% other. Drink through 2026.
95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A private dinner (Restaurant Rijsel, Amsterdam, NL): Rich and deep yet fresh and elegant, oriental spices and orange zest, well hung game and warm cailloux, silky-sweet, rounded and supple, big and weighty (15% ABV) but not overpowering, long and flowing finish. Just beautiful. At perfect peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In full accordance with previous notes. A wonderfully drinking C9dP. Nothin extremely outstanding (but probably the best the vintage serves), but very good quality.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ein ganz feiner Ch9 aus kleinem Jahr. Weder Wuchtbrumme noch Alkoholmonster! Ganz weich und rund! Ein echter Crowdpleaser! Jetzt auf den Punkt! Trinken!!! 91-92P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First, immediate impression on the nose was classic CDP. Some moss, some weather, some sour fruit, and some great. No signs of aging in its color as there is no hint of orange on the rim. Small taste before it decant. Sour cherry was prevalent. Then poured into a decanter for a few hours..... Amazing what a little time does: Rich aroma of dark stone fruit and tobacco with a hint of oak and vanilla. A rich flavor with loads of dark ripe fruits, berries, tobacco, moss, dirt and stone. So well done for a not-so-exceptional year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drunk at Morgans with Catherine, Yasmin, Olivier etc
A: Light in colour. Not mature looking N: Expressive, herbs and garrigue P: Wonderful. Complex. quite light in the front and plenty of acidity so actually quite refreshing along side the mid palette weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old school CndP at its best. Lithe and elegant; one might say lean, barring the negative connotation. Very complex, with hints of (unoffensive) brett. Perfectly drinkable now, but no hurry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good but not outstanding Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Not over-ripe or with excessive alcohol. Drunk over three evenings, better on the second and third. Bright, clean, deep ruby. An attractive, interesting bouquet of espresso, baked cherries and plums, fresh plums and, particularly on later evenings, secondary notes of old leather, tobacco leaf and a little tar. In the mouth, a similar profile, but more savoury and earthy than the nose suggests. Initially particularly, a touch of bitterness with some alcohol burn. But, overall, quite seamless, with fine grained tannins, hides the big structure and alcohol (15%, on the label). Mocha and tar elements became more prominent on the later evenings. Now drinking well.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos des Papes Vertical: A few conclusions: 1) The wines showed consistently on a good to very good level. 2) The wines have great ageing potential - the 1975 was still singing. 3) If you like almost port wine like ripeness (and high alcohol) you find great wines in the 2000s, for my palate this is just too much (the 2007 vintage with 100 points from the Parker team got a pretty low score from me). 4) More recent vintages show less ripeness, more balance and elegance (although less so in really hot years like in 2015). 5) The 2016 is exceptionally good. Definitely a must buy. Probably the most promising CDP I've had so far. 6) Clos des Papes offers good value for money.
TN: This drinks quite nicely these days. 2008 was no stellar vintage that's why this wine is quite atypical for the decade with rather cool, fresh, not too ripe fruit, less alcohol and body. No stunner in terms of precision and depth but still quite nice to drink. With a few more years on the hips and some additional tertiary aromatics this will certainly be even a tad better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mixed WTDS at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Dark red olor. PNP, drank a glass over an h0ur. Great spice notes, good tension, Get much better with air, the nose explodes about 30 minutes in, perfumed, dried earth and crushed flowers with dark fruits. Classic Clos des Papes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chateauneuf and Hermitage: The last bottle I had of this was a Pop and pour, and it showed. This was Bellisimo's bottle, decanted 4 hours, and it's at least 4 points better. There is spice, garrigue, red fruit and earth. It is very good, and will likely be great in 5+ years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to a group event. Decanted a little over 4 hours. Very spicy, garrigue, black cherry and licorice. No rush to run out and consume these but can be enjoyed today. Love the lower 14% ABV and don't get any sense of heat.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I can look back on my notes from 2 years and 4 years ago and feel like the wine has barely budged. A little more expressive and it certainly hasn’t lost any of its allure. Love it. 5+13+18+8= 94
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super nice, rich, complex garrigue-y CdP, still excellent black fruits, don't remember much at this point though. (The 4 Rhones: Jaboulet CdP 1978; '98 La Turque; '98 Chave Hermitage; '08 Clos des Papes CdP). EWG 10 years on dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- It's balanced with a full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Great cdp. Smooth with some tannins. Fruit is right there. Decanted briefly and drank over an hour or so.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu au resto AVV La Causerie de Orford avec les Fouduvins, Bulle, Bordeaux70, Meursault et MikeLM. Assez approchable même si plus alcooleux et ample que les autres de cette dégustation. Nez sur les herbes et les fruits noirs. En bouche, ample et presque gras, tapisse la bouche. Les tannins sont charnus et la finale sur la chauffe est assez longue.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dense and expressive nose, with generous fresh red fruit and sweetness. Full bodied and compact in the mouth. Well structured, combining fresh fruit aromas with wood, tobacco, menthol and licorice in the background. Excellent result in a difficult Rhône year. Can be drunk now or over the coming 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quick trade tasting note - umami, iron, barn, green field herbs, more lean than other vintages but is a nice herbaceous way that I enjoyed. I wasn't sure about the 2008 vintage in cdp but it has been really nice from the better houses I've had recently.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a difference a couple more years and a decant make. Really gorgeous. Scoring 92+ with the distinct possibility of becoming outstanding with a little more age. En magnum. Last score two years ago was 88. Now - Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank this on the same night we drank a 2000 clos des Papes
This wine absolutely needs time to cellar and will be a great wine in about 5 years. It has great flavor with an interesting mid-palate touch of herbs and maybe some coffee. However, the tannins are a bit too sharp and overpower the flavor at the end.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
125ml sampler machine poor @ Vagabond, Nova Victoria, London. Still very young and albeit not austere or closed still only shows hints of the wine this can be or at least what one would expect. Light herbs de province on the nose, light fruited. On the palate it is round and welcoming but also a bit blunt and uninspiring. Not over done or in anyway pushed this shows the vintage we felt quite well. 88-89 and drink from now but better wait
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pleased with this. Don't really buy or drink clos does papes after '01 due to the shift towards the ripe and modern style, but this is very good. Fairly elegant, with the body of a mid-weight California Pinot. The flavor profile actually isn't that far off either, with the addition of a bit of animale funk. Happy to have a case at a cheap price and look forward to drinking in the coming years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I read my note from over two years ago and I don't think I would change a thing. Amazing how consistent and true that Clos des Papes seems to hold up over time. Only needed about 30 minutes of air to round out and drink in great form for two days open.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to a dinner, shared with friends over many courses. Decanted 1 hour prior; didn't focus on wine as much as the food conversation. Great deep enjoyable nose with lots of garrigue, kirsch, black cherry and flowers. On the palate dark raspberries, garrigue, black tea and leather. Medium+ weight. Nice acids. Not huge or over-the-top. Enjoyed and well received.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clearly evolved from a year ago. Only start showing well on the nose after more than 3 hour slow ox. But when it does, lot of spice on the nose. Bright and Vibrant despite 15% alcohol. Hold or enjoy with decant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex aromas of raspberries, blackberries, tilled soil and spice box. Good expression; harmonious. On the palate, quite rich with good follow through, although the acidity here is moderate and this can feel a touch flabby.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color - dark purple blue Nose - mushroomy/earthy with a hint of leather Taste - Dark cherry, raspberry, cranberry, mildly acidic/tannic moderate body, duration moderately long
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. This was tasty from the outset. The wine was medium bodied but rich and dense with glossy sweet fruit and classic CdP kirsch notes. On this day the wine was open and smooth. At this stage in my palate development I prefer CdP from leaner years as the fruit still comes across as rich to me without being over the top. This was quite enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great stuff, everything is there in the right place. Definitely on the secondary side this wine entered in its drinking window. Rather dry it has still grippy tannins and a strong acidity that keep it on the fresh side. Medium bodied it has less weight than all other recent vintage of CdP. Good finish with some cinnamon and black tea notes. A bit atypical for the appellation.
Give it an hour of air. Drink now and for the 2-3 years to come cause I don't think it will last very long.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 1/2 hour and drank over 2 and it needed the air. Definitely developing nicely. Roasted herbs, leather over a sour cherry base. Added some weight and now its pushing full bodied with a great finish. Still has time to improve even more.
When I feel the need to remind myself of how good Chateauneuf can be, I reach for a Clos des Papes. In younger days I thought of this as "Burgundian". Rubbish! Much as I love Burgundy, it can tend to pout and sulk one day and be ever so charming and seductive the next. Clos des Papes doesn't sulk. I suppose what I meant was that it has class - that it knows how to talk proper and it's always beautifully balanced and that its weight and power does not stop it being elegant. The label says 15.2% alcohol but there is not a hint of alcohol heat or taste, which in my experience is rare once you get over 15%. Like the man said, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Deliciously serious and very long. It demands attention and commands respect. exc
The color has already a bit lightened. The nose is stunning, with aromas of smoke and tobacco, but also very refined ripe red fruits. The somehow sweet taste is quite similar: smoke, tobacco and dark berry flavors are prominent at first, while red fruits and berries are dominating later. The taste is full-bodied and intense, but there is also some lightness and tenderness on the palate, partly due to the fresh acidity. The taste is very long.
This was a great experience, and I think that the wine was also in a very good phase right now. I am sad that my one and only bottle has now been consumed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red; spice box, "Christmas", fresh strawberries; fresh attack, lots of spices (I find this typical for CdP 2008), cloves, nice depth, good structure, lean and straight with body; very agreeable without being complex or anything "special", just straightforward and nice
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bue en 2 temps : compte rendu après décantation de 6 heures, grandement bénéfique. Cuvée approchable dès aujourd'hui, nez sur cerise, menthol, tanins imperceptibles, belle bouche suave et fraîche, finale riche et sucrée - 92/100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think CdP wines are becoming my new favorite as it seems I never really get a bad bottle of CdP regardless of producer or vintage. My other favorites like Brunello can suffer from sour bottles, Bordeaux can have weak, flabby bottles, Napa Cabs can be too oaky or vegatal but CdP seems to be consistent in delivering a pleasurable experience.
I last had the 2008 as it was just released at then end of a 2004-07 vertical tasting with an informal wine group. It was a pop'n pour at that time and suffered in comparison to the other 4 vintages, which had some age and had all been decanted but I did rate it a solid 90. So it was a pleasant surprise to visit this 3 years later and it developed nice complexities on the nose of Asian spices, barnyard, dried fruit. Poured into a decanter but we started drinking this before, during and after dinner (fish sauteed in peppers, olives and onions) and it was pretty darn consistent, gaining some nuances on the palate after an hour or so. A solid 93 point effort in my book.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[J&B Rhone tasting] It was already accessible this time last year although I wasn't impressed back then. Now, agree with Rossi: It has evolved and beginning to build some character, though admittedly, still pales in comparisons with the 2009 and the 2011 tasted this evening. For a 2008 this is very good indeed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good structure, much less weight and sweetness compared to the 2009, more elegant, but also less complex, concentrated and long. Nicely evolved, fresh, good fruit. Very good finish. 91-93
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs -mostly opaque dark red with slight purple -somewhat closed, plum, pepper, dark toned -med acidity, med- weight, tightly wound darkish fruits, bitter component carries through to finish, moderately elegant without tremendous depth -stylistically Clos des Papes, darker fruit profile than some other '08s, quite closed down right now, needs time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
See through darker core with garnet rim; dusty Grenache, baby Aspirin, raspberry, tart, bitter, red and dark fruit compote, white pepper, stony; raspberry on the palate, white pepper, softer texture, Grenache tannin; very tasty for the vintage, already drinking well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful Wine....almost Burgundian in style.Interesting nose,lavender,black cherries,fresh figs,black berries,graphite,spices.Medium bodied with good structure,elegant,good depth and balance,great freshness.Nice to drink for the next 7-8 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Earthy, smoky, red plums, medium bodied, lighter style of Clos des Papes with a focus on freshness, elegance, bright red fruits and spice. Drink this Burgundian styled wine on the young side. If you are thinking Parker is off his game on all the high scoring years, due to too much alcohol and fruit, you will like this wine a lot.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes after bottle had been open for 12 hours. Bright ruby color with a notch of garnet, about 60% opaque with clear, quick legs and moderate sediment present Profound redcurrant, blue plum, intense clove, jasmine, and a little bretty funk that gives way to dirt and sweet tobacco over time. Flavors are rich and deep, but the palate is deft and agile with acidity. Tannins are perfectly soft and there is a little heat on the tail end. Finish is dry with long persistence. Certainly not in any coma and fully approachable. Structured to drink well for several more years. I've never really been stung by the Chateauneuf bug, but this certainly scratches an itch that Beaucastel doesn't. 5+13+17+8 = 93
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and let breath for about an hour(no solids to discard). Immediately struck by the rich and complex nose of dark cherries, plums, caramel, and a hint of spice. Tastes fantastically rich and pure. Red fruits with a hint of fresh mushrooms that just seems to change ever so slightly with every sip. Probably drinking at or near its peak right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow- drank from a magnum. Decanted for 90-minutes. One of the best CDP's I've ever had...well balanced, silky smooth tannins, smell of burnt earth, taste of a perfectly cooked rib eye. Drinking perfectly now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour Nice nose raspberry jam, little gamey on the nose, little white pepper. Good raspberry flavor, a bit of boysenberry flavor. Tasty stuff. Long finish, medium acid. medium tannins, good medium mouth feel. Medium high acid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and waited about 5 seconds before tasting. Nice deep reddish-purple in the glass. Smelled of strawberries and raspberries as the wine entered the decanter. In the glass, the wine has an intense nose of dark red fruit, minerals, and spices. The wine evolved throughout the evening as we sipped it. It always went in a more favorable direction. This one was a really wild trip with flavors of dark fruit, earth, spice, minerals and no hint of alcohol. It was an absolute pleasure.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
92-93pts. 2+ hr decant. Nice wine for sure. Newer in style and character, but after some decanting some subtle pepper and gaminess came out in the background. Gorgeous texture. A nice tart, plum, licorice, black fruit flavor with rich mid palate and finish. Almost a little bit of apple towards the end which was interesting. Finish is good. What I like about this wine is the mouth feel and weight. Very quality, well made, great structure, lacking in fruit category, but the silky smooth texture really appealed to me and that made it feel more balanced. Enjoyed this one quite a bit, and great value for this class of wine in an "off year." Tasty now, but no problem aging these for a bit longer. Did taste quite young still.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Moins impressionnant que les 2005 et 2007, plus sur la retenue en ce moment. Nez sur les cerises à l'eau de vie et les épices. En bouche, c'est frais et assez délicat pour cette cuvée...il y a un petit manque de chair. Belle équilibre et finale assez longue!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour after opening - Nose of berries and barnyard. Sour and strong alcohol flavor. Will wait another hour.
Better after two hours of decanting - Alcohol has subsided a bit and less sour. Will wait another hour.
Even better three hours after decanting - Alcohol has further subsided and left behind a mellow taste. Now it's ready to drink. Better aftertaste and tail. Barnyard, plum, dark berries and clove.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted three hours, the nose was closed but the palate was gorgeous silk so refined and polished you can just taste the refinement, its young this to me is very elegant, classy, if you were to put this in the CdP range this def edges toward the 'burgundian' side of things, the grenache is elegant
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very fine and tasty wine is this 2008 Clos des Papes. Rich red fruit with spicy undertones and a fairly lengthy after taste. We had no trouble polishing this bottle that was given a brief decanting and airing before tasting. It has a nice deep garnet red/purple color. For an off year in CdP, this wine is drinking very nicely right now and is likely to improve for several more to come.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours and served blind. Tasted alongside the 2001, 2003 and 2005 vintages of this wine. The 2008 was the clear winner amongst all of these vintages, and we were all shocked when the vintage was revealed.
Clearly the best 2008 CDP I have tasted, I have enjoyed this wine on many occasions. Outstanding and very consistent producer, year in and year out.
- Ruby color with a medium finish - Full-on berries with a touch of liquorice. No sign of stemmy flavour mentioned in previous reviews. A mellow and nicely rounded wine. Not the best Clos vintage, but still a very decent and drinkable wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Châteaneuf du Pape; Clos des Papes tasting plus some extra's (@ AS): In the bouquet cherry yoghurt and butter milk Ok garrigue. On the palate still very lactic as well. A lot of cherries and a good balance between acidity and sweetness, round tannin, but overall still much too young. No score for today, but eventually this will be a 92 or 93 points wine.
Earth and a little funk. Lots of band-aid on the nose, a touch on the palate. Lots of cherry and other fruit. But green and stemmy. Disappointing, even for a 2008.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual CdP Dinner (Edina Country Club, MN): -- 1 hr. slow-ox before the event; initial taste approx. 2.5 hours after cork first pulled -- -- tasted a single pour non-blind over approx. 30 min., and then another pour non-blind over approx. 15 min. about 2 hours later --
NOSE: red fruits; herby; sweaty shoes; smells very stemmy, which struck me as odd b/c I know Clos des Papes destems; cardamom; overall, this wine presents a cool-climate range of aromatics --- perhaps this is the vintage coming through?
BODY: medium bodied.
TASTE: fresh; drying tannin; 15% alc. not noticeable; kind of thin and weedy; a bit loosely structured; light orange juice note; light garrigue on the finish, which is of medium length and medium intensity. Not a bad wine, but this is a bad Clos des Papes, and a horrible QPR. I had hopes that, of all producers, perhaps Clos des Papes would be able to overcome the problems presented by the 2008 vintage --- sadly, they did not.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Holiday CDP Tasting (Edina, MN): Dark red color. Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. This was just flat out a disappointment. Not that I was expecting the earth to move or anything, but this was just a mess. The nose was stemmy and green, rarely giving a little floral character, VERY herbal, cherry fruit, spices. The palate didn't bring any further nuance, in fact, it was about identical. Herbal, stemmy, tart cherries, spices, very angular.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual CDP Tasting (Edina Country Club): Tasted more like a Lirac than a CDP. Fruit forwards and lacked character with spice, smoke and floral notes. Short to medium finish. I would pay about $15 for this wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over three nights. This is a very nice example of modern CDP in a vintage that does not take the fruit intensity over the top. Great wine that could either be consumed now or laid down for 20 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
med ruby, garnet rim; med developing, wet leaves, earth, lavender, black pepper, mulled rd fruit, edge of game; dry, med acid, med tannin (fairly smooth, only slightly drying on finish), med+body/alcohol, med intensity/finish, tobacco leaf, cedar, cigar ash, red fruits; very good- nicely balanced
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft and approachable for a Chateauneuf this young, but despite its light color it delivers ample and appealing aromatics and flavor. It's not like there's a fierce wall of tannins to battle through (which I consider a good thing for near term consumption) but I thinking it's missing some of the garrigue notes and other complexities that make Rhone wines so distinctive. Tough call whether a Donjon from a great vintage at $50 is a better play than this wine at $60 or $70. A good chance to try Clos des Papes if you can catch it on a deal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding for the vintage. Classic aromas of herbs de provence, currants, cassis, scorched earth and forest floor. Great lenght, silky tannins! The wine's finish is very persistent and easily 45 seconds.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Blogger's Tasting - 2010 Châteauneufs (MacArthur's - Washington, DC): I tasted this wine blind at the end, and new we were dealing with a different vintage. I actually guessed this as a 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and was surprised that it was only a 2008. I don't have as much experience with this vintage, but I thought this was wine was very impressive. Lovely, smooth aromas of plums, smoke, meat and spiced stew. The palate shows great balance and elegance, light on its feet even. Fresh acid and fine tannins, along with red plums, wild strawberries and rhubarb. It finishes with herbs and fresh acid. I think this will continue to evolve for another five years, but I'm not too sure about it's long-term potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
tasted alongside the 2001. It was great to contrast the two wines with the 2001 showing wonderful secondary characters with still plenty of time left. The 08 being fresh and very primary with loads of spice. Loved both wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superb wine. The subtle but very concentrated wine, shows red fruits and the oak is so well integrated that it merely supports the structure without taking a lead role in the play. A really nice effort from Avril. One of my absolute favourite wines of the Rhone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
05, 08 and 09 tasted. Agreement that order was 09, 05 and 08. 09 is very nicely rounded, deep, licorice, intense fruit, very nicely balanced; 08 is lighter, significantly more spiced and seems destined for the short term; 05 had started to develop other aromas, sweeter and more sherry-like than the two others with density closer to 08 than 09; all three wines were clearly good and quite different from each other
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturday at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Was very impressed by this bottle. Had beautiful aromas of spiced meats, jasmin, lilac and plum that grew with air. The palate was lithe with nice spice and dark fruit tones to it. This was open for about 6 hours and by hour 5, the palate grew very acidic and lost much of its fruit. I'd recommend a pop-and-pour for this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interesting nose of pepper, cherries, earth and herbs. The wine is medium boddied, dominated by red fruit. It has a good structure of fine tannins and acidity. Rather elegant and cool in style, almost burgundian, if not for the more sweeter styled fruit. Not a QPR in any way, but a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
i dont like the body here.its a bit round,nt lean enuff.its a early drinking wine.i assume tat it has onli a little sign of improvement in future.if u wud hve ask me is tis bttl worth buying,i wud say yes if the price is rite n which is nt more than US $80.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2008 Clos des Papes exhibits the typical purity from this producer as well as the typical layers of dark mature fruit, subtle red currant, elegant oak exposure and so much thyme, sage and rosemary it feels like a bouquet garni has been put in the bottle during bottling. I simply love the wines from this producer, but it is pretty obvious this vintage is not as good as the 05 I tasted a few months ago. It is simply a little less of everything but still tremendously good. I am not sure how this wine will age. My guess is - pretty well, but why wait? It drinks terrifically well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and poured. This bottle has significantly improved versus last September. Cherry, raspberry, herbs, pepper. Medium bodied, long finish. Very approachable now with just enough acidity to provide structure. Expect this to develop over the years but may not improve depending on how you like your wine. Right now, I'm enjoying the fruit forwardness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed exactly 2 years after the first bottle I tried. Unlike that bottle, this was a very disappointing showing. While my last bottle wasn't a showstopper, this was just a below average wine. All I got from it were twizzlers and acid. None of the typical floral or gamey tones with hardly a spice note to be found. This tasted like a $5 grenache off the shelf at a supermarket.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruity with blackberries, raspberries. Ligth tones of barrels with vanilla. Medium body, soft tannins. Easy too drink now! (Short notes from tasting event in Malmö)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice one. The thing that pops the most for me is the smoothness through the lingering finish. Quite nice with hints of cherry and raspberry. The transition from first taste to finish is quite smooth and nice. I'll be saving some to open a few more years down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Expressive bouquet with beautiful spiciness, cherries and just a little development. On the palate a lot of garrigue and some earthiness. Cherries and ripe raspberries and some impressions of flint stone. Beautiful fresh acidity, a touch of sweetness and pleasant tannin. The juice is spreading through the mouth and complex. Beautiful and still very youthful wine. Already approachable, but better wait another 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos Des Papes Vertical (Henry's Lake House): Popped and poured which was a crime. This is just a baby and has the stuffing to get much better. Give it a couple of more years to settle down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos des Papes 2000 and 2004-08 Vertical at Henry's Lakehouse (Candlewood Lake, Danbury CT): Henry did a pop'n pour on the 2008 at a Clos de Papes vertical as we started at this vintage and worked our way down to '04 with a 2000 thrown into the mix. All of the others had been decanted 2-4 hours so this was just getting some air. Very fruit forward and the oak did not have time to integrate. For most of us this was at the bottom of the tasting though the others benefited from more age and air time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 2008 is Way overrated . This wine has a lot of vegetal flavors presently! Missing balance and identity presently but may come around in 10 or so years. Very sos-so presently!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much less big and expressive than the '05, '06, and '07, which isn't surprising following such outstanding vintages. The color was a lot lighter, and more opaque than I am use to in a Clos des Papes. There were barely any noticeable tannins and the fruit was good but the finish was shorter than I wanted it to be. It is still a stellar wine and one of the greatest Chateauneufs I've had from '08. It is really a difficult wine to judge coming after the previous three phenomenal vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Meilleure que la première fois. Le nez est sublime sur des notes de poivre blanc, fraises et cerises kirsch. C'est très complexe. Quelle senteur! En bouche, c'est superbement équilibré, longueur des plus acceptables, bonne densité. Franchement une belle bouteille.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quelle belle fiole! On croirait presque un Bordeaux (ce qui, pour ma part, est un compliment!). Au nez, c'est floral, très complexe. On sent le vin à une grande distance. En bouche, la structure est impeccable, grande finesse, rien de floral: le fruit est magnifique. Finale très acceptable. Superbe effort de la part de Clos des Papes, dans un millésime difficile.
Beaucoup plus près de mon palais que le 2007 explosif bu précédemment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos des Papes Tasting (Great Wine Buys, Portland OR): The nose is spicy, showing cinnamon and orange zest on top of deep blackberry and dark plums. There's something in the nose that reminds me of a light pastry too, but it's not always around. Plums on the palate are full and firm, but not harsh. The blackberries suggested on the nose appear as well. Smoky notes show on the mid palate along with acidity that reminds me of raspberries. The blackberry flavors linger long into the finish as well as the smoke and acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vin viril, réglisse noire, viande, puissant et moins fin que d'autres années, mais il y a la patte du vigneron qui imprime cette qualité indéniable. Je l'ai sans doute surévalué la dernière fois, mais il est tout de même très bon, quoique trop cher. Revoir avec plaisir ds 4-6 ans. 91 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hmmm, interesting stuff. Smooth violets come screaming out of the glass, low tannins on the palate - very serene but a meaty liver taste on the palate. Puts on weight over 3 hours and becomes much sweeter - I imagine this will be a gnarled old leathery wine in 10 years, but surprisingly good drinking so early in its life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
J'ai été très étonné de constater que c'était le 2008 à l'aveugle. J'ai bien aimé la fraîcheur et la finesse de ce vin, qui n'a pas la stature des 2005-06-07 mais qui demeure très agréable, quoique cher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Helga's 7th Annual CDP Tasting (2008 Vintage CDPs Semi-Blind) (Atlanta, GA): Black fruit / earthy / spicy on nose (very nice). On palate, black cherry/ dried cranberry / black pepper/ heavy tannins (integrated but they are stout) leading to medium + finish. I preferred the Peagau and the Beaucastel to this but I would put this #3 in the tasting. This was the groups WOTN (7 votes out of 14).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Verticale Clos des Papes Nez suave avec un coté expressif qui, en rétrospective, le sert très bien et lui permet de ne pas avoir l’air fou du tout face à ses grands frères plus réputés. Au contraire, il a une très belle structure, plus souple et voluptueuse, il est bien concentré et savoureux, il lui manque tout juste un peu plus de chair en milieu de bouche. Beaucoup aimé. 92-93 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A surprise! I wasn't expecting much from this - the 2008 CdPs have been much maligned - but this is a great wine. This is the most drinkable young Clos des Papes I've had. Its a beautifully perfumed wine, with a deep licorice/leather back bone. Its very refined, and very balanced.
Seems to be built to drink young. Not as hearty as other Avril wines. But its an excellent wine if drunk now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
La robe est rubis tout de même foncé sans être opaque. Au nez, je retrouve l'aspect terreux soulevé par LOUISSS, également belle présence de cerises kirsch, notes de poivres blancs, le nez se montre très intéressant à ce jour. Le vin n'est pas des plus denses (pas autant que le 2003 par exemple), toutefois c'est loin d'être mince comme les commentaires le soutiennent en décrivant le millésime 2008 à C9P en général. En bouche, c'est très satiné, le vin semble doté d'une belle structure, c'est bien frais, on retrouve une bien minime pointe d'alcool à la toute fin de la gorgée, belle rétro olfaction faisant davantage ressortir l'aspect poivré et fruits rouges avec une légère présence de réglisse en retrait, également ce n'est pas astringent du tout. En toute honnêteté, c'est certain que ce vin n'est pas aussi enrobé qu'un Clos St-Jean 2007 par exemple, toutefois il est élégant, offre une belle complexité aromatique, c'est un vin qui m'apparaît pur mais en ayant de la char sur les os. C'est loin d'être mince et dillué comme Blacksmith le mentionnait. Est-ce un RQP ? Non, sans aucun doute. Est-ce très plaisant à déguster ? Oui, j'en suis persuadé. Je pense que pour ceux qui n'ont pas pu mettre la main sur les derniers 2006 ou 2007 en raison de la folie accordée à ce vin pourront mettre la main sur ce 2008 qui, sans prétendre être aussi grand que ces deux millésimes susmentionnés, pourra à coup sûr leur permettre de passer un beau moment avec ce grand vin tant plébiscité par les soit-disant experts. 92-93 en ce moment et on verra ce que le futur lui réserve. Je pense que WS pourrait avoir visé juste le concernant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): nice fruit flavors of black cherry and other black fruit. med(+) finish. strong black pepper notes on finish. a nice wine and one of the better CDPs I had at this tasting, but not up to the highs i recall from previous clos des papes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This could turn out to be a quite good Clos des Papes. Delicate kirsch on the nose. Sweet and ripe Grenache along with pepper and spices. A Clos des Papes in a lighter and more elegant style. Very well structured. I'd buy this if it was selling for $30/btl, but for $60 and up - no way. Zachys 2010 Wine Tasting to Benefit Robin Hood.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby, sweet dark fruit and Port like alcohol feel on the nose (15%). Some vanilla, ok acidity, ripe tannins, not too complex, lean fruity style, alcoholic, sweet finish and "good" length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Absolutely explosive nose; the closest I can get is sherbet, but that rather insults what's on offer here. The palate is rather like the 07 Vieux Telegraphe, relatively severe and restrained compared to the nose, but softens on the finish.
All 4 of the Avril wines tonight (08, 07, 06, 04) have strong juicy blackcurrant fruit. My first taste of Clos des Papes; it won't be my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/16/2024 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Did not decant.
It opened up after 20 min in the glass, swirling occasionally.
From Coravin. First sample.
I think it might need a bit more air. Will update when we pull the cork.
From a bottle that was kept in the Wine Society cellars in optimal conditions in the last 8 years or so. Cork in top shape for a 16-year old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful! Still some mouth-filling fruit! But surrounded by menthol, garrigue, spice and “old library “ on the nose. The palate is rich, but balanced and the finish is long. Popped and poured and it did not need decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2023 - Bjweiss wrote: 94 Points
I can’t imagine this getting better because it was just spectacular. Right away, the nose was showing meat, tobacco, and leather, which all showed up on the palette in spades. Just enough fruit left to enjoy, but the wine is well into its secondary and tertiary phases. Tannins are resolved and add just a light touch of grip to keep the wine balanced and beautiful. The acid is medium, but never lacking for this warmer climate wine. Thrilled with how this bottle showed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2023 - Twowinechicks Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not quite ruby-red, tinge of brown at the edges, a bit cloudy, garrigue and briar notes on the nose, medium-bodied, and not as young or fresh as it once was. Prunier than expected. And it still is hairy enough to spur near-immediate bursts of chest hair!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2023 - maxima wrote: 87 Points
Les moins bonne du lot!
Un peu de chauffe avec un
peu de sucrosité.
Un peu trop de tout en ce moment
cette bouteille!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2023 - Miceri Likes this wine: 96 Points
Medium red, a bit rusty tones; nose not that prominent, a bit of pepper and strawberry; an elegant CdP, medium concentrated body with a nice soft freshness; seems to be at its prime - really delicious (so much different from when it was young - based on previous notes)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2023 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS: Clos des Papes (By AH): Beautiful and creamy, not very expressive bouquet with red berries and light herbs and spices. On the palate the same impressions, red berries like strawberries and some cherries, good and fresh acidity, some bitterness and hardly any tannin left. Subtle wine. Nice and easy drinking wine at its peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Served blind as part of an informal tasting, this was opened about two hours before we got to it, but not decanted.
Two things were obvious from the first sniff - ripe red fruits and sweaty horse. The brett element didn't completely dominate on the nose, but it was always there. On the palate there was more red fruit and some herbal tones, with a bit of dustiness. The brett didn't become notable until there was a metallic edge on the finish, which I have always picked up on bretty wines. The overall texture of the wine was incredibly smooth to the point of sexy, but then there was the horse. My blind guess was 2012 Southern Rhone Grenache, so not bad at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2022 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Small glass around the bonfire. No formal note taken.
I find these "off vintages" of CDP more in my wheelhouse of the more acclaimed high-alcohol vintage. I liked the restraint on this. Integrated darker fruits, black pepper, some cured meats.
In a good spot. Last of three for me and probably near peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Rose's on the Deck: A Summer Party (Matt and Brenda's, Minneapolis, MN): Another bonus red at the end of the night thanks to Matt and Brenda. Really even handed and showing beautifully, classic and understated style of CdP that I love. 92+ to 93pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2022 - SeattlePaul wrote:
Beautiful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2022 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 90 Points
A much hyped property, stirring high expectations. Well matured red berries, liquorice, menthol, sous-bois and tobacco aromas. Well structured, but still a bit edgy in an admittedly difficult Rhône year. To be revisited, but probably not improving much more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2022 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
From 75cl, perfect cork. A bottle of impeccable provenance, decanted 1 hour and followed over 2 subsequent hours. Spicy darkish berry fruit on the nose; big entry (15% alc.) unappealingly blockish, thick, lacking the softness or intricacy of texture to bear its considerable sweetness with grace. Mid palate: well, you'd have to like Mourvèdre and frankly after a sugary-sweaty bottle of Ch. Musar 1998 last weekend and this sugary leathery CdP tonight: I think there are other classical Rhône varietals I prefer to dominate a blend. But of course it might soften further, and become texturally more interesting in a couple of years. Right now, food pairing is all: beef roulades in spicy red wine sauce made it taste unflatteringly brickish-sweet; a moment of glory flashed in combination with over-ripe Stilton cheese: lovely garrigue, rosemary and thyme herbs shot through the mid-palate. Perhaps worth a try with rare steak and a rocquefort sauce? Look forward to broaching my stash of the 2004 soon, and seeing if it is any more to my taste than this or the 2003 were. Otherwise, it'll be more Pegau and Beaucastel in the future. 89-90P
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2022 - RockinCabs wrote: 93 Points
This has evolved beautifully. Today with an hour in the decanter the 2008 releases a melange of blackberry, raspberry, cracked pepper, fresh thyme and smoked meats.
The palate is medium weight and offers a lot of acidity, clear red fruit profiles and a lot of earthy herbal intensity. Enjoy now. This is nicely in other drinking window.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2022 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Awesome with a bit of air
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2021 - Eric Wright wrote: 94 Points
Medium bodied, light tannins. PnP, very approachable. Enjoyed without food then an hour later with cheese and crackers. Mourvèdre comes through strongest; Syrah is noticeable but subtle. Leather and dark fruit on the nose. Good length on the flavor. Overall really lovely and appropriately priced at ~$150
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2021 - jerhardt wrote:
Consistent with my prior bottles. Light, lean, and elegant with high toned, spicy, and complex flavors. Would love to do this as a ringer in a Rayas lineup. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2021 - HOS wrote: 95 Points
PnP with tacos from an original bottle bought in 2011. This is in a great drinking window. Classic aged CdP profile, full bodied, long finish. No hurry but this may be at its peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2021 - trumpet60201 wrote: 89 Points
No detailed notes from this tasting, except that I didn't love this one. My first Clos des Papes. I have 1 more bottle and I'll wait several more years before having it. This did seem to have lots of life left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2021 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Tasted over 3 hrs, bottle from secondary market
-dark red
-moderately expressive grenache-y kirsch and pine
-med acidity, med weight some faded somewhat monolithic stony red fruit with noticeable heat carrying a bitter note through to the finish where only med- tannins remain
-this bottle not very interesting at this stage as it lacks complexity balance
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - vide Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well, a medley of tasting notes below.
As always with Clos des Papes, a lifted, almost perfumed nose of dark fruit, earth and cassis. The palate is tightly-knit and with texture, but depth of fruit is lacking, or rather there is good fruit here but it dries out rather too quickly into an alcohol finish.
The quality of this wine is beyond doubt: whatever it takes to make a good CNP has gone into this. There is no such thing as a bad bottle of Clos des Papes. But this particular wine (from this particular vintage) does not quite hit the mark.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2020 - Gail and Len Likes this wine: 92 Points
Christmas dinner with lamb
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2020 - J_H wrote: 92 Points
- 1h decanted
- Nose: The nose is characterised by a lot of liquorice, chewing gum, raspberry, vanilla and added christmas spices. Intense nose and only a few tertiary aromas. On closer inspection, the nose is dominated by ripe fruit, which appears cooked and jammy. For me, personally, Almost a bit one-sided.
- Mouth: In the mouth, the taste profile is equally aligned: Ripe, cooked fruit. The finish is powerfull and long lasting. Ripe tannins and quite full-bodied. Brute power! Compared to the Bordeaux wines (today also tasted) the finesse and freshness is missing.
- As there are few tertiary aromas to be recognised at first, a good 5 years of ageing potential.
91-92P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Old library book right off the bat. Dark fruits, menthol, violets and lavender on the nose. Well-integrated on the palate. A touch hot on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2020 - joedv8s Likes this wine: 97 Points
One of the finest bottles I've ever had.
At the tender age of 12 the fruit was bright cherry like almost Pinot and earthy. I don't know what to do with the other bottle when something is so good. Do I dare keep it longer!!
Decanted 2 hours prior dinner for 6, everyone loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2020 - Kepos Likes this wine: 95 Points
as always a stunning wine. Balance, fruity, sweet, dark berries, lot of energy, just outstanding. a south rhone wine burgundian style
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Menthol and minerals on the nose. Mellow on the palate, Grenache comes through , but subtly. If you have bottles, drink’em soon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2020 - Mr Dregs Likes this wine:
Peak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2020 - Stufts wrote: 91 Points
Shows beautiful age in the color, with a bit of rusty garnet. Nose is medium plus, lacking complexity of the stronger CdP vintages. Sweet red fruits, some earthiness, a bit of cedar. The palate is shy of full but still quite lovely. The more austere minerality is dominating, not quite as balanced out with red and blue fruits as one would hope for a pricey CdP. However, it's still a high quality CdP, just in a less exciting vintage. Ready to drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2020 - Sjontoft wrote: 93 Points
Drinking extremely well now - near peak. Tannins are now fully developed. Black fruit and hints of pepper. Tertiary flavours starting to develop, but it does not have the body of warmer years to really shine int he long run I think.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2020 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium garnet in colour, with rich aroma of rasberries and blackberries, liquorice notes, herbs and roasted meats. Medium bodied, but with a surprising freshness across the palate that even reminded me slightly of a burgundy. I really enjoyed this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 95 Points
Ruby-garnet, brick rim with some sediments.
Nose: Candy shop, dried cherry, potpourri, oak paneling, dried red flower. Haunting and ethereal.
Mouth: A smooth ball of blackberry pates des fruits and black Darjeeling runs up against a flash of Syrah- darkening as melted black licorice and violet stream around. A mix of grilled cherry, bay leaf, thyme, and chalk take the finish. Silk in the mouth, with a light tannic tinge still alive to cap everything off.
Overall: Elegant and complete without being over the hill. Comes in waves, and stays beguiling (if at times bit more rustic than anticipated). A lot of fun all in all, with some room still to run. 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 5% other. Drink through 2026.
95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2020 - Frank Schneider wrote: 93 Points
Very unusual CdP ! Much acis and tension. No big body but good fruit. More Blaufränkisch or Burgundy. I like it ! Ready but no hurry
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/29/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant Rijsel, Amsterdam, NL): Rich and deep yet fresh and elegant, oriental spices and orange zest, well hung game and warm cailloux, silky-sweet, rounded and supple, big and weighty (15% ABV) but not overpowering, long and flowing finish. Just beautiful. At perfect peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2019 - Seb Frefranc wrote: 92 Points
In full accordance with previous notes. A wonderfully drinking C9dP. Nothin extremely outstanding (but probably the best the vintage serves), but very good quality.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - champussi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ein ganz feiner Ch9 aus kleinem Jahr. Weder Wuchtbrumme noch Alkoholmonster! Ganz weich und rund! Ein echter Crowdpleaser! Jetzt auf den Punkt! Trinken!!! 91-92P
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2019 - Frank Schneider wrote: 93 Points
PnP !!! Pour vintage ?? Not here ! This works so well ! Much better than the hot years !!!! Drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2019 - ChopperWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
First, immediate impression on the nose was classic CDP. Some moss, some weather, some sour fruit, and some great. No signs of aging in its color as there is no hint of orange on the rim. Small taste before it decant. Sour cherry was prevalent. Then poured into a decanter for a few hours..... Amazing what a little time does: Rich aroma of dark stone fruit and tobacco with a hint of oak and vanilla. A rich flavor with loads of dark ripe fruits, berries, tobacco, moss, dirt and stone. So well done for a not-so-exceptional year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2019 - colmanstephenson Likes this wine:
Drunk at Morgans with Catherine, Yasmin, Olivier etc
A: Light in colour. Not mature looking
N: Expressive, herbs and garrigue
P: Wonderful. Complex. quite light in the front and plenty of acidity so actually quite refreshing along side the mid palette weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2019 - jerhardt wrote: 92 Points
Old school CndP at its best. Lithe and elegant; one might say lean, barring the negative connotation. Very complex, with hints of (unoffensive) brett. Perfectly drinkable now, but no hurry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2019 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 92 Points
A good but not outstanding Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Not over-ripe or with excessive alcohol. Drunk over three evenings, better on the second and third. Bright, clean, deep ruby. An attractive, interesting bouquet of espresso, baked cherries and plums, fresh plums and, particularly on later evenings, secondary notes of old leather, tobacco leaf and a little tar. In the mouth, a similar profile, but more savoury and earthy than the nose suggests. Initially particularly, a touch of bitterness with some alcohol burn. But, overall, quite seamless, with fine grained tannins, hides the big structure and alcohol (15%, on the label). Mocha and tar elements became more prominent on the later evenings. Now drinking well.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2019 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
La moins convainquante jusqu'ici.
Semble plus carré et moins abouti que 2007 selon mes
notes. Finale un peu disjointe et sur la chauffe.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2019 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
Clos des Papes Vertical: A few conclusions: 1) The wines showed consistently on a good to very good level. 2) The wines have great ageing potential - the 1975 was still singing. 3) If you like almost port wine like ripeness (and high alcohol) you find great wines in the 2000s, for my palate this is just too much (the 2007 vintage with 100 points from the Parker team got a pretty low score from me). 4) More recent vintages show less ripeness, more balance and elegance (although less so in really hot years like in 2015). 5) The 2016 is exceptionally good. Definitely a must buy. Probably the most promising CDP I've had so far. 6) Clos des Papes offers good value for money.
TN: This drinks quite nicely these days. 2008 was no stellar vintage that's why this wine is quite atypical for the decade with rather cool, fresh, not too ripe fruit, less alcohol and body. No stunner in terms of precision and depth but still quite nice to drink. With a few more years on the hips and some additional tertiary aromatics this will certainly be even a tad better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Mixed WTDS at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Dark red olor. PNP, drank a glass over an h0ur. Great spice notes, good tension, Get much better with air, the nose explodes about 30 minutes in, perfumed, dried earth and crushed flowers with dark fruits. Classic Clos des Papes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2019 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Chateauneuf and Hermitage: The last bottle I had of this was a Pop and pour, and it showed. This was Bellisimo's bottle, decanted 4 hours, and it's at least 4 points better. There is spice, garrigue, red fruit and earth. It is very good, and will likely be great in 5+ years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Older CDP's and Northern Rhones (P.S. Steak, Mpls): Small taste. Good, spiced, graphite, deep red fruits.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2019 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to a group event. Decanted a little over 4 hours. Very spicy, garrigue, black cherry and licorice. No rush to run out and consume these but can be enjoyed today. Love the lower 14% ABV and don't get any sense of heat.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2019 - Gail and Len wrote: 92 Points
Went well with rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2019 - fingers Likes this wine: 94 Points
I can look back on my notes from 2 years and 4 years ago and feel like the wine has barely budged. A little more expressive and it certainly hasn’t lost any of its allure. Love it. 5+13+18+8= 94
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2018 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Weekly tasting group RWP #314; Mysterious theme: What could be Christmas wines….. (@ VD): Very spicy bouquet with red and dark berries, cherries, garrigue and chocolate. On the palate garrigue, leather, chocolate again, beautiful and juicy acidity and tannin. Good length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2018 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Super nice, rich, complex garrigue-y CdP, still excellent black fruits, don't remember much at this point though. (The 4 Rhones: Jaboulet CdP 1978; '98 La Turque; '98 Chave Hermitage; '08 Clos des Papes CdP). EWG 10 years on dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2018 - JB12 wrote: 94 Points
- It's balanced with a full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Great cdp. Smooth with some tannins. Fruit is right there. Decanted briefly and drank over an hour or so.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2018 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Bu au resto AVV La Causerie de Orford avec les Fouduvins, Bulle, Bordeaux70, Meursault et MikeLM.
Assez approchable même si plus alcooleux et ample que les autres de cette dégustation.
Nez sur les herbes et les fruits noirs.
En bouche, ample et presque gras, tapisse la bouche.
Les tannins sont charnus et la finale sur la chauffe est assez longue.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2018 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dense and expressive nose, with generous fresh red fruit and sweetness. Full bodied and compact in the mouth. Well structured, combining fresh fruit aromas with wood, tobacco, menthol and licorice in the background. Excellent result in a difficult Rhône year. Can be drunk now or over the coming 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 91 Points
Clos des papes tasting #4: Mature nose with figs, dates, strawberries , candy notes and Christmas spices.
Clear and developed mouthfeel, silky and smooth texture. 91p
BV=4, WV=1
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2018 - Frank Schneider wrote: 93 Points
Real good wine for the poor vintage ! Fruity and improving with air. This one works pnp !!! just open and enjoy. Drink !!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2018 - aknot13 wrote: 93 Points
Very elegant CDP - early maturity - has many years left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2018 - bajayngo wrote:
Quick trade tasting note - umami, iron, barn, green field herbs, more lean than other vintages but is a nice herbaceous way that I enjoyed. I wasn't sure about the 2008 vintage in cdp but it has been really nice from the better houses I've had recently.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - theRealPepe Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a difference a couple more years and a decant make. Really gorgeous. Scoring 92+ with the distinct possibility of becoming outstanding with a little more age. En magnum. Last score two years ago was 88. Now - Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - wsammons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank this on the same night we drank a 2000 clos des Papes
This wine absolutely needs time to cellar and will be a great wine in about 5 years. It has great flavor with an interesting mid-palate touch of herbs and maybe some coffee. However, the tannins are a bit too sharp and overpower the flavor at the end.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - sc03852 wrote:
Ripe black fruits, cedar, tobacco, nutmeg, forest floor, cloves. Inky and concentrated, can use a few more years. Medium acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2017 - Papies wrote: 89 Points
125ml sampler machine poor @ Vagabond, Nova Victoria, London.
Still very young and albeit not austere or closed still only shows hints of the wine this can be or at least what one would expect. Light herbs de province on the nose, light fruited. On the palate it is round and welcoming but also a bit blunt and uninspiring. Not over done or in anyway pushed this shows the vintage we felt quite well. 88-89 and drink from now but better wait
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2017 - Jurgens wrote: 89 Points
Open for 1 1/2 hour before. Little closed and unbalanced at some points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2017 - jerhardt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pleased with this. Don't really buy or drink clos does papes after '01 due to the shift towards the ripe and modern style, but this is very good. Fairly elegant, with the body of a mid-weight California Pinot. The flavor profile actually isn't that far off either, with the addition of a bit of animale funk. Happy to have a case at a cheap price and look forward to drinking in the coming years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2017 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 92 Points
Garrigue, kirsch, black cherry. Continues to evolve after opening. Very enjoyable. 6 bottles with family birthday dinner.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2016 - gaveaux Likes this wine: 92 Points
Candied aroma, spice decent acid. Probably could have given it some time to air before drinking but still excellent
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2016 - fingers Likes this wine:
I read my note from over two years ago and I don't think I would change a thing. Amazing how consistent and true that Clos des Papes seems to hold up over time. Only needed about 30 minutes of air to round out and drink in great form for two days open.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Brisket Bash Deux: 10 Vintage Vertical of Clos de Papes and more (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): dark red color. PNP, drank a small pour over 20 minutes. Drank as part of a vertical of Clos des Papes (95, 98, 99, 00, 01, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09). This has come a long, long way since I had it 4 years ago. Herbs and garrigue, cherry, kirsch, violets, tea, wood spice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2016 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Brought to a dinner, shared with friends over many courses. Decanted 1 hour prior; didn't focus on wine as much as the food conversation. Great deep enjoyable nose with lots of garrigue, kirsch, black cherry and flowers. On the palate dark raspberries, garrigue, black tea and leather. Medium+ weight. Nice acids. Not huge or over-the-top. Enjoyed and well received.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2016 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
Clearly evolved from a year ago. Only start showing well on the nose after more than 3 hour slow ox. But when it does, lot of spice on the nose. Bright and Vibrant despite 15% alcohol. Hold or enjoy with decant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2016 - Jurgens wrote: 90 Points
drink now or within 2017
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2016 - aknot13 wrote: 93 Points
Very elegant and structured wine ! 15% alcohol not noticeable, beautifully balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2016 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Complex aromas of raspberries, blackberries, tilled soil and spice box. Good expression; harmonious. On the palate, quite rich with good follow through, although the acidity here is moderate and this can feel a touch flabby.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2016 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Occasional dinner group; A vertical of 15 vintages Clos des Papes and some great extra's. (@ B in SvG): Beautiful bouquet with good fruits, garrigue, smoke and some toast. On the palate juicy red berry fruits like raspberries and also cherries. Good acidity and bitterness. The tannin is still a bit sticky and drying in the finish. A beautiful and elegant wine in its young maturity stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2016 - cyak Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color - dark purple blue
Nose - mushroomy/earthy with a hint of leather
Taste - Dark cherry, raspberry, cranberry, mildly acidic/tannic moderate body, duration moderately long
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - theRealPepe wrote: 88 Points
No detailed notes - from a magnum, this was short and dry. Quite a disappointment, though well-crafted. Very Good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. This was tasty from the outset. The wine was medium bodied but rich and dense with glossy sweet fruit and classic CdP kirsch notes. On this day the wine was open and smooth. At this stage in my palate development I prefer CdP from leaner years as the fruit still comes across as rich to me without being over the top. This was quite enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2016 - SonnyChiba wrote: 93 Points
Excellent as before and slightly better than I remember. A lot of ripe plum, balanced, complex, and delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2015 - Pacherant wrote: 90 Points
Red and blue fruit. Lean and cool. I actually like the cooler fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2015 - Gilles Ledesma wrote: 92 Points
Great stuff, everything is there in the right place. Definitely on the secondary side this wine entered in its drinking window. Rather dry it has still grippy tannins and a strong acidity that keep it on the fresh side. Medium bodied it has less weight than all other recent vintage of CdP. Good finish with some cinnamon and black tea notes. A bit atypical for the appellation.
Give it an hour of air. Drink now and for the 2-3 years to come cause I don't think it will last very long.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2015 - HOS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hour and drank over 2 and it needed the air. Definitely developing nicely. Roasted herbs, leather over a sour cherry base. Added some weight and now its pushing full bodied with a great finish. Still has time to improve even more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/11/2015 - ruth3 wrote: 94 Points
Last of this now, something licorice or amarone in there. doesnt taste like 15%. balanced. oh so harmonious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2015 - Dnathanson Likes this wine: 97 Points
A beautifully balanced wine drinking perfectly now. As good as it gets for this vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2015 - Jeff W wrote:
When I feel the need to remind myself of how good Chateauneuf can be, I reach for a Clos des Papes. In younger days I thought of this as "Burgundian". Rubbish! Much as I love Burgundy, it can tend to pout and sulk one day and be ever so charming and seductive the next. Clos des Papes doesn't sulk. I suppose what I meant was that it has class - that it knows how to talk proper and it's always beautifully balanced and that its weight and power does not stop it being elegant. The label says 15.2% alcohol but there is not a hint of alcohol heat or taste, which in my experience is rare once you get over 15%. Like the man said, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Deliciously serious and very long. It demands attention and commands respect. exc
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/4/2015 - CosmicDude Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic Chateauneuf! Enjoyed with fine roast leg of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2015 - lkilpio Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is quite a Burgundian-type of CdP.
The color has already a bit lightened. The nose is stunning, with aromas of smoke and tobacco, but also very refined ripe red fruits. The somehow sweet taste is quite similar: smoke, tobacco and dark berry flavors are prominent at first, while red fruits and berries are dominating later. The taste is full-bodied and intense, but there is also some lightness and tenderness on the palate, partly due to the fresh acidity. The taste is very long.
This was a great experience, and I think that the wine was also in a very good phase right now. I am sad that my one and only bottle has now been consumed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2015 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour and drank over the next four. Crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2015 - wineduggery Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruits with white pepper and cloves. Well-balanced, but a bit simple for this price point. 14% abv.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2015 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured - not a good idea, as this thing is closed. Started to open up two hours after opening - getting good!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2015 - Ahughes444 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium to full bodied; ruby brown color; translucent; brown core with light rim.
Good legs on swirl;
Aromas of soil, clay, sandlewood, strawberry, cherry, brown sugar.
Flavors of strawberry, soil, rose pedal, and spice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2015 - Miceri Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium red; spice box, "Christmas", fresh strawberries; fresh attack, lots of spices (I find this typical for CdP 2008), cloves, nice depth, good structure, lean and straight with body; very agreeable without being complex or anything "special", just straightforward and nice
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2015 - stefad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bue en 2 temps : compte rendu après décantation de 6 heures, grandement bénéfique. Cuvée approchable dès aujourd'hui, nez sur cerise, menthol, tanins imperceptibles, belle bouche suave et fraîche, finale riche et sucrée - 92/100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2015 - EricLi wrote: 91 Points
decate 2 hours before serving. Dark ruby, peppery and fully-bodied. Classical and delicate. Good with steak. Even better with pasta dishes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2015 - trailsidedrive wrote: 93 Points
CarneVino - Vegas: Aromas of white pepper and dark fruit. Nice acidity - black tea, crushed cherry, black currant. A very long, silky finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2014 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think CdP wines are becoming my new favorite as it seems I never really get a bad bottle of CdP regardless of producer or vintage. My other favorites like Brunello can suffer from sour bottles, Bordeaux can have weak, flabby bottles, Napa Cabs can be too oaky or vegatal but CdP seems to be consistent in delivering a pleasurable experience.
I last had the 2008 as it was just released at then end of a 2004-07 vertical tasting with an informal wine group. It was a pop'n pour at that time and suffered in comparison to the other 4 vintages, which had some age and had all been decanted but I did rate it a solid 90. So it was a pleasant surprise to visit this 3 years later and it developed nice complexities on the nose of Asian spices, barnyard, dried fruit. Poured into a decanter but we started drinking this before, during and after dinner (fish sauteed in peppers, olives and onions) and it was pretty darn consistent, gaining some nuances on the palate after an hour or so. A solid 93 point effort in my book.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2014 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 91 Points
[J&B Rhone tasting] It was already accessible this time last year although I wasn't impressed back then. Now, agree with Rossi: It has evolved and beginning to build some character, though admittedly, still pales in comparisons with the 2009 and the 2011 tasted this evening. For a 2008 this is very good indeed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Good structure, much less weight and sweetness compared to the 2009, more elegant, but also less complex, concentrated and long. Nicely evolved, fresh, good fruit. Very good finish. 91-93
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and decanted, and promptly drank over the next three hours. Always good value for the money. Too bad these are going up in price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2014 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
No notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2014 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 91 Points
seems to be loosing some intensity, and those classis cdp flavors... Gas sone nice evolution, but I prefer it younger
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2014 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs
-mostly opaque dark red with slight purple
-somewhat closed, plum, pepper, dark toned
-med acidity, med- weight, tightly wound darkish fruits, bitter component carries through to finish, moderately elegant without tremendous depth
-stylistically Clos des Papes, darker fruit profile than some other '08s, quite closed down right now, needs time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - ruth3 wrote: 92 Points
Zesty, black cherries, red fruit. earthy smoky core- drinking beautifully. bit raisiny now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Nicely balanced, rich and loaded with layers of fruit and spice. Elegant
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
See through darker core with garnet rim; dusty Grenache, baby Aspirin, raspberry, tart, bitter, red and dark fruit compote, white pepper, stony; raspberry on the palate, white pepper, softer texture, Grenache tannin; very tasty for the vintage, already drinking well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2014 - valedeniro wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful Wine....almost Burgundian in style.Interesting nose,lavender,black cherries,fresh figs,black berries,graphite,spices.Medium bodied with good structure,elegant,good depth and balance,great freshness.Nice to drink for the next 7-8 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Earthy, smoky, red plums, medium bodied, lighter style of Clos des Papes with a focus on freshness, elegance, bright red fruits and spice. Drink this Burgundian styled wine on the young side. If you are thinking Parker is off his game on all the high scoring years, due to too much alcohol and fruit, you will like this wine a lot.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2014 - fingers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes after bottle had been open for 12 hours. Bright ruby color with a notch of garnet, about 60% opaque with clear, quick legs and moderate sediment present
Profound redcurrant, blue plum, intense clove, jasmine, and a little bretty funk that gives way to dirt and sweet tobacco over time. Flavors are rich and deep, but the palate is deft and agile with acidity. Tannins are perfectly soft and there is a little heat on the tail end. Finish is dry with long persistence. Certainly not in any coma and fully approachable. Structured to drink well for several more years.
I've never really been stung by the Chateauneuf bug, but this certainly scratches an itch that Beaucastel doesn't. 5+13+17+8 = 93
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2014 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted and let breath for about an hour(no solids to discard). Immediately struck by the rich and complex nose of dark cherries, plums, caramel, and a hint of spice. Tastes fantastically rich and pure. Red fruits with a hint of fresh mushrooms that just seems to change ever so slightly with every sip. Probably drinking at or near its peak right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2014 - ccn wrote: 89 Points
Rich, masculine wine - slightly hot. Good for what it is but not a style of wine I like.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2014 - Dnathanson wrote: 97 Points
Wow- drank from a magnum. Decanted for 90-minutes. One of the best CDP's I've ever had...well balanced, silky smooth tannins, smell of burnt earth, taste of a perfectly cooked rib eye. Drinking perfectly now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2014 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour
Nice nose raspberry jam, little gamey on the nose, little white pepper. Good raspberry flavor, a bit of boysenberry flavor. Tasty stuff. Long finish, medium acid. medium tannins, good medium mouth feel. Medium high acid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2014 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and waited about 5 seconds before tasting. Nice deep reddish-purple in the glass. Smelled of strawberries and raspberries as the wine entered the decanter. In the glass, the wine has an intense nose of dark red fruit, minerals, and spices. The wine evolved throughout the evening as we sipped it. It always went in a more favorable direction. This one was a really wild trip with flavors of dark fruit, earth, spice, minerals and no hint of alcohol. It was an absolute pleasure.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2014 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
92-93pts. 2+ hr decant. Nice wine for sure. Newer in style and character, but after some decanting some subtle pepper and gaminess came out in the background. Gorgeous texture. A nice tart, plum, licorice, black fruit flavor with rich mid palate and finish. Almost a little bit of apple towards the end which was interesting. Finish is good. What I like about this wine is the mouth feel and weight. Very quality, well made, great structure, lacking in fruit category, but the silky smooth texture really appealed to me and that made it feel more balanced. Enjoyed this one quite a bit, and great value for this class of wine in an "off year." Tasty now, but no problem aging these for a bit longer. Did taste quite young still.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Moins impressionnant que les 2005 et 2007, plus sur la retenue en ce moment.
Nez sur les cerises à l'eau de vie et les épices.
En bouche, c'est frais et assez délicat pour cette cuvée...il y a un petit manque de chair.
Belle équilibre et finale assez longue!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 92 Points
One hour after opening - Nose of berries and barnyard. Sour and strong alcohol flavor. Will wait another hour.
Better after two hours of decanting - Alcohol has subsided a bit and less sour. Will wait another hour.
Even better three hours after decanting - Alcohol has further subsided and left behind a mellow taste. Now it's ready to drink. Better aftertaste and tail. Barnyard, plum, dark berries and clove.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 90 Points
One hour after opening - Nose of berries and barnyard. Sour and strong alcohol flavor. Will wait another hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2014 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 92 Points
decanted three hours, the nose was closed but the palate was gorgeous silk so refined and polished you can just taste the refinement, its young this to me is very elegant, classy, if you were to put this in the CdP range this def edges toward the 'burgundian' side of things, the grenache is elegant
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2013 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 94 Points
A very fine and tasty wine is this 2008 Clos des Papes. Rich red fruit with spicy undertones and a fairly lengthy after taste. We had no trouble polishing this bottle that was given a brief decanting and airing before tasting. It has a nice deep garnet red/purple color. For an off year in CdP, this wine is drinking very nicely right now and is likely to improve for several more to come.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - BordeauxBuff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Blind CDP tasting at Bistro du Midi:
Decanted for 3 hours and served blind. Tasted alongside the 2001, 2003 and 2005 vintages of this wine. The 2008 was the clear winner amongst all of these vintages, and we were all shocked when the vintage was revealed.
Clearly the best 2008 CDP I have tasted, I have enjoyed this wine on many occasions. Outstanding and very consistent producer, year in and year out.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/29/2013 - Noeyedeer wrote: 91 Points
- Ruby color with a medium finish - Full-on berries with a touch of liquorice. No sign of stemmy flavour mentioned in previous reviews. A mellow and nicely rounded wine. Not the best Clos vintage, but still a very decent and drinkable wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2013 - Zweder wrote:
Châteaneuf du Pape; Clos des Papes tasting plus some extra's (@ AS): In the bouquet cherry yoghurt and butter milk Ok garrigue. On the palate still very lactic as well. A lot of cherries and a good balance between acidity and sweetness, round tannin, but overall still much too young. No score for today, but eventually this will be a 92 or 93 points wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/27/2012 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Earth and a little funk. Lots of band-aid on the nose, a touch on the palate. Lots of cherry and other fruit. But green and stemmy. Disappointing, even for a 2008.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2012 - grafstrb wrote:
Annual CdP Dinner (Edina Country Club, MN): -- 1 hr. slow-ox before the event; initial taste approx. 2.5 hours after cork first pulled --
-- tasted a single pour non-blind over approx. 30 min., and then another pour non-blind over approx. 15 min. about 2 hours later --
NOSE: red fruits; herby; sweaty shoes; smells very stemmy, which struck me as odd b/c I know Clos des Papes destems; cardamom; overall, this wine presents a cool-climate range of aromatics --- perhaps this is the vintage coming through?
BODY: medium bodied.
TASTE: fresh; drying tannin; 15% alc. not noticeable; kind of thin and weedy; a bit loosely structured; light orange juice note; light garrigue on the finish, which is of medium length and medium intensity. Not a bad wine, but this is a bad Clos des Papes, and a horrible QPR. I had hopes that, of all producers, perhaps Clos des Papes would be able to overcome the problems presented by the 2008 vintage --- sadly, they did not.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 86 Points
Annual Holiday CDP Tasting (Edina, MN): Dark red color. Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. This was just flat out a disappointment. Not that I was expecting the earth to move or anything, but this was just a mess. The nose was stemmy and green, rarely giving a little floral character, VERY herbal, cherry fruit, spices. The palate didn't bring any further nuance, in fact, it was about identical. Herbal, stemmy, tart cherries, spices, very angular.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
Annual CDP Tasting (Edina Country Club): Tasted more like a Lirac than a CDP. Fruit forwards and lacked character with spice, smoke and floral notes. Short to medium finish. I would pay about $15 for this wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2012 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Consumed over three nights. This is a very nice example of modern CDP in a vintage that does not take the fruit intensity over the top. Great wine that could either be consumed now or laid down for 20 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2012 - Obalde wrote:
med ruby, garnet rim; med developing, wet leaves, earth, lavender, black pepper, mulled rd fruit, edge of game; dry, med acid, med tannin (fairly smooth, only slightly drying on finish), med+body/alcohol, med intensity/finish, tobacco leaf, cedar, cigar ash, red fruits; very good- nicely balanced
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - RobertDwyer wrote: 92 Points
Soft and approachable for a Chateauneuf this young, but despite its light color it delivers ample and appealing aromatics and flavor. It's not like there's a fierce wall of tannins to battle through (which I consider a good thing for near term consumption) but I thinking it's missing some of the garrigue notes and other complexities that make Rhone wines so distinctive. Tough call whether a Donjon from a great vintage at $50 is a better play than this wine at $60 or $70. A good chance to try Clos des Papes if you can catch it on a deal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2012 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding for the vintage. Classic aromas of herbs de provence, currants, cassis, scorched earth and forest floor. Great lenght, silky tannins! The wine's finish is very persistent and easily 45 seconds.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2012 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 Points
Wine Blogger's Tasting - 2010 Châteauneufs (MacArthur's - Washington, DC): I tasted this wine blind at the end, and new we were dealing with a different vintage. I actually guessed this as a 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and was surprised that it was only a 2008. I don't have as much experience with this vintage, but I thought this was wine was very impressive. Lovely, smooth aromas of plums, smoke, meat and spiced stew. The palate shows great balance and elegance, light on its feet even. Fresh acid and fine tannins, along with red plums, wild strawberries and rhubarb. It finishes with herbs and fresh acid. I think this will continue to evolve for another five years, but I'm not too sure about it's long-term potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2012 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 90 Points
Tasty, has the classic Clsoe des Papes, but weak. Looking at previous notes, I think this is fading.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2012 - sultana wrote: 93 Points
tasted alongside the 2001. It was great to contrast the two wines with the 2001 showing wonderful secondary characters with still plenty of time left. The 08 being fresh and very primary with loads of spice. Loved both wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2012 - Vintjener wrote: 91 Points
Superb wine. The subtle but very concentrated wine, shows red fruits and the oak is so well integrated that it merely supports the structure without taking a lead role in the play. A really nice effort from Avril. One of my absolute favourite wines of the Rhone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2012 - Miceri wrote: 91 Points
05, 08 and 09 tasted. Agreement that order was 09, 05 and 08. 09 is very nicely rounded, deep, licorice, intense fruit, very nicely balanced; 08 is lighter, significantly more spiced and seems destined for the short term; 05 had started to develop other aromas, sweeter and more sherry-like than the two others with density closer to 08 than 09; all three wines were clearly good and quite different from each other
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2012 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Saturday at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Was very impressed by this bottle. Had beautiful aromas of spiced meats, jasmin, lilac and plum that grew with air. The palate was lithe with nice spice and dark fruit tones to it. This was open for about 6 hours and by hour 5, the palate grew very acidic and lost much of its fruit. I'd recommend a pop-and-pour for this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2012 - MayValley wrote: 92 Points
Interesting nose of pepper, cherries, earth and herbs. The wine is medium boddied, dominated by red fruit. It has a good structure of fine tannins and acidity. Rather elegant and cool in style, almost burgundian, if not for the more sweeter styled fruit. Not a QPR in any way, but a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 91 Points
i dont like the body here.its a bit round,nt lean enuff.its a early drinking wine.i assume tat it has onli a little sign of improvement in future.if u wud hve ask me is tis bttl worth buying,i wud say yes if the price is rite n which is nt more than US $80.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2012 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
Classic Clos des Papes Black Forest Gateau.... there's no other wine like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 93 Points
The 2008 Clos des Papes exhibits the typical purity from this producer as well as the typical layers of dark mature fruit, subtle red currant, elegant oak exposure and so much thyme, sage and rosemary it feels like a bouquet garni has been put in the bottle during bottling. I simply love the wines from this producer, but it is pretty obvious this vintage is not as good as the 05 I tasted a few months ago. It is simply a little less of everything but still tremendously good. I am not sure how this wine will age. My guess is - pretty well, but why wait? It drinks terrifically well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2012 - ctwomey wrote:
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tasting in Ely Wine Bar with Simon Tyrrell (Ely Wine Bar and Brasserie): 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre. No oak, no destemming, peppery, spicy, red fruits, cherries. 15% alcohol. Very fine for the vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2012 - HOS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and poured. This bottle has significantly improved versus last September. Cherry, raspberry, herbs, pepper. Medium bodied, long finish. Very approachable now with just enough acidity to provide structure. Expect this to develop over the years but may not improve depending on how you like your wine. Right now, I'm enjoying the fruit forwardness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2012 - tooch wrote: 73 Points
Consumed exactly 2 years after the first bottle I tried. Unlike that bottle, this was a very disappointing showing. While my last bottle wasn't a showstopper, this was just a below average wine. All I got from it were twizzlers and acid. None of the typical floral or gamey tones with hardly a spice note to be found. This tasted like a $5 grenache off the shelf at a supermarket.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - lessrof wrote: 92 Points
Fruity with blackberries, raspberries. Ligth tones of barrels with vanilla. Medium body, soft tannins. Easy too drink now! (Short notes from tasting event in Malmö)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2012 - crumbletop Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nice one. The thing that pops the most for me is the smoothness through the lingering finish. Quite nice with hints of cherry and raspberry. The transition from first taste to finish is quite smooth and nice. I'll be saving some to open a few more years down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2011 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Expressive bouquet with beautiful spiciness, cherries and just a little development. On the palate a lot of garrigue and some earthiness. Cherries and ripe raspberries and some impressions of flint stone. Beautiful fresh acidity, a touch of sweetness and pleasant tannin. The juice is spreading through the mouth and complex. Beautiful and still very youthful wine. Already approachable, but better wait another 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2011 - HOS wrote:
Clos Des Papes Vertical (Henry's Lake House): Popped and poured which was a crime. This is just a baby and has the stuffing to get much better. Give it a couple of more years to settle down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2011 - Arch57 wrote: 90 Points
Clos des Papes 2000 and 2004-08 Vertical at Henry's Lakehouse (Candlewood Lake, Danbury CT): Henry did a pop'n pour on the 2008 at a Clos de Papes vertical as we started at this vintage and worked our way down to '04 with a 2000 thrown into the mix. All of the others had been decanted 2-4 hours so this was just getting some air. Very fruit forward and the oak did not have time to integrate. For most of us this was at the bottom of the tasting though the others benefited from more age and air time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2011 - jcomm wrote: 85 Points
This 2008 is Way overrated .
This wine has a lot of vegetal flavors presently!
Missing balance and identity presently but may come around in 10 or so years.
Very sos-so presently!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2011 - rcurlee wrote: 91 Points
Much less big and expressive than the '05, '06, and '07, which isn't surprising following such outstanding vintages. The color was a lot lighter, and more opaque than I am use to in a Clos des Papes. There were barely any noticeable tannins and the fruit was good but the finish was shorter than I wanted it to be. It is still a stellar wine and one of the greatest Chateauneufs I've had from '08. It is really a difficult wine to judge coming after the previous three phenomenal vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2011 - Opusone99 wrote: 94 Points
Meilleure que la première fois. Le nez est sublime sur des notes de poivre blanc, fraises et cerises kirsch. C'est très complexe. Quelle senteur! En bouche, c'est superbement équilibré, longueur des plus acceptables, bonne densité. Franchement une belle bouteille.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2011 - maxime3333 wrote: 93 Points
Quelle belle fiole! On croirait presque un Bordeaux (ce qui, pour ma part, est un compliment!). Au nez, c'est floral, très complexe. On sent le vin à une grande distance. En bouche, la structure est impeccable, grande finesse, rien de floral: le fruit est magnifique. Finale très acceptable. Superbe effort de la part de Clos des Papes, dans un millésime difficile.
Beaucoup plus près de mon palais que le 2007 explosif bu précédemment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2011 - subtlet Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clos des Papes Tasting (Great Wine Buys, Portland OR): The nose is spicy, showing cinnamon and orange zest on top of deep blackberry and dark plums. There's something in the nose that reminds me of a light pastry too, but it's not always around. Plums on the palate are full and firm, but not harsh. The blackberries suggested on the nose appear as well. Smoky notes show on the mid palate along with acidity that reminds me of raspberries. The blackberry flavors linger long into the finish as well as the smoke and acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 91 Points
Vin viril, réglisse noire, viande, puissant et moins fin que d'autres années, mais il y a la patte du vigneron qui imprime cette qualité indéniable. Je l'ai sans doute surévalué la dernière fois, mais il est tout de même très bon, quoique trop cher. Revoir avec plaisir ds 4-6 ans. 91 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2011 - pjaines wrote:
Hmmm, interesting stuff. Smooth violets come screaming out of the glass, low tannins on the palate - very serene but a meaty liver taste on the palate. Puts on weight over 3 hours and becomes much sweeter - I imagine this will be a gnarled old leathery wine in 10 years, but surprisingly good drinking so early in its life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2011 - ludwigbpm wrote: 92 Points
J'ai été très étonné de constater que c'était le 2008 à l'aveugle. J'ai bien aimé la fraîcheur et la finesse de ce vin, qui n'a pas la stature des 2005-06-07 mais qui demeure très agréable, quoique cher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2011 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Helga's 7th Annual CDP Tasting (2008 Vintage CDPs Semi-Blind) (Atlanta, GA): Black fruit / earthy / spicy on nose (very nice). On palate, black cherry/ dried cranberry / black pepper/ heavy tannins (integrated but they are stout) leading to medium + finish. I preferred the Peagau and the Beaucastel to this but I would put this #3 in the tasting. This was the groups WOTN (7 votes out of 14).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Verticale Clos des Papes
Nez suave avec un coté expressif qui, en rétrospective, le sert très bien et lui permet de ne pas avoir l’air fou du tout face à ses grands frères plus réputés. Au contraire, il a une très belle structure, plus souple et voluptueuse, il est bien concentré et savoureux, il lui manque tout juste un peu plus de chair en milieu de bouche. Beaucoup aimé. 92-93 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2011 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 94 Points
A surprise! I wasn't expecting much from this - the 2008 CdPs have been much maligned - but this is a great wine. This is the most drinkable young Clos des Papes I've had. Its a beautifully perfumed wine, with a deep licorice/leather back bone. Its very refined, and very balanced.
Seems to be built to drink young. Not as hearty as other Avril wines. But its an excellent wine if drunk now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2010 - Opusone99 wrote: 92 Points
La robe est rubis tout de même foncé sans être opaque. Au nez, je retrouve l'aspect terreux soulevé par LOUISSS, également belle présence de cerises kirsch, notes de poivres blancs, le nez se montre très intéressant à ce jour. Le vin n'est pas des plus denses (pas autant que le 2003 par exemple), toutefois c'est loin d'être mince comme les commentaires le soutiennent en décrivant le millésime 2008 à C9P en général. En bouche, c'est très satiné, le vin semble doté d'une belle structure, c'est bien frais, on retrouve une bien minime pointe d'alcool à la toute fin de la gorgée, belle rétro olfaction faisant davantage ressortir l'aspect poivré et fruits rouges avec une légère présence de réglisse en retrait, également ce n'est pas astringent du tout. En toute honnêteté, c'est certain que ce vin n'est pas aussi enrobé qu'un Clos St-Jean 2007 par exemple, toutefois il est élégant, offre une belle complexité aromatique, c'est un vin qui m'apparaît pur mais en ayant de la char sur les os. C'est loin d'être mince et dillué comme Blacksmith le mentionnait. Est-ce un RQP ? Non, sans aucun doute. Est-ce très plaisant à déguster ? Oui, j'en suis persuadé. Je pense que pour ceux qui n'ont pas pu mettre la main sur les derniers 2006 ou 2007 en raison de la folie accordée à ce vin pourront mettre la main sur ce 2008 qui, sans prétendre être aussi grand que ces deux millésimes susmentionnés, pourra à coup sûr leur permettre de passer un beau moment avec ce grand vin tant plébiscité par les soit-disant experts. 92-93 en ce moment et on verra ce que le futur lui réserve. Je pense que WS pourrait avoir visé juste le concernant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2010 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): nice fruit flavors of black cherry and other black fruit. med(+) finish. strong black pepper notes on finish. a nice wine and one of the better CDPs I had at this tasting, but not up to the highs i recall from previous clos des papes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2010 - pbaek wrote:
This could turn out to be a quite good Clos des Papes. Delicate kirsch on the nose. Sweet and ripe Grenache along with pepper and spices. A Clos des Papes in a lighter and more elegant style. Very well structured. I'd buy this if it was selling for $30/btl, but for $60 and up - no way. Zachys 2010 Wine Tasting to Benefit Robin Hood.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2010 - Christer Byklum wrote: 75 Points
Ruby, sweet dark fruit and Port like alcohol feel on the nose (15%). Some vanilla, ok acidity, ripe tannins, not too complex, lean fruity style, alcoholic, sweet finish and "good" length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2010 - Miceri wrote: 90 Points
Dark red; sweet nose, mulberry; round, pleasant, tasty; long aftertaste; a bit one-dimensional lacking complexity but otherwise very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2010 - rjag Likes this wine:
Berry Bros 2008 Rhone tasting (1 Great George Street, London): Absolutely explosive nose; the closest I can get is sherbet, but that rather insults what's on offer here.
The palate is rather like the 07 Vieux Telegraphe, relatively severe and restrained compared to the nose, but softens on the finish.
All 4 of the Avril wines tonight (08, 07, 06, 04) have strong juicy blackcurrant fruit. My first taste of Clos des Papes; it won't be my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2010 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Youthful, but has nice promise. Cherry compote, sous bois, dried florals. Needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment