2005 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape

JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  Issue #11, 3/18/2012, (See more on JebDunnuck.com...)

  (Domaine Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Josh Raynolds
  January/February 2008, IWC Issue #136, (See more on Vinous...)

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Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  9/17/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Olivier Hillaire CDP) Olivier Hillaire Dear Friends, I just departed from Avignon and I’ve seen quite a few offers for these in the US (due to the Wine Spectator reviews from last week) - they deserve every accolade. I’m glad to see a producer this small receive the recognition he deserves as he does not have the same ability to market his wines as the larger producers. As a group, these are among the very best wines of the vintage and they have to be some of the more impressive cuvees still priced within reason. Both of these show a clarity, focus and depth I found lacking in many 2005 CdP’s and the alcohol is woven in an expert fashion - they are focused on almost surreal aromatics that are so pure and defined it makes you want to cellar the wines to see how they will evolve. This is a producer that has treated his regular cuvee as his best effort and kept the price reasonable (unlike the trend where many producers are diluting their regular cuvees in favor of more material, and money, for the “luxury” cuvees). Olivier Hillaire takes the material for his CdP from his best lots and it’s obvious when you smell and taste the wine. As a comparison, I found myself having a tough time recommending the regular cuvees from many of Hillaire’s competitors (the prices are just too high for the quality level) but not here - this wine is at the level of the best wines in the region. This is probably because Hillarie’s Petits Pieds d’Armand is from a specific parcel and it does not affect the quality of the regular wine. I’ve seen quite a few offers for these from US sources at prices that have made me shake my head so I thought it was time for our own - all with perfect provenance directly from the source... 2005 Olivier Hillaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape EXTREMELY LIMITED (this is not Vignerons de St. Hillaire) 2005 Olivier Hillaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Les Petits Pieds d'Armand" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone7810 Rhone7820