Clos des Papes Tasting

Great Wine Buys and C&G Wines got together to provide the wonderful opportunity of tasting 8 vintages of this famous wine side by side. Everything was very well organized, and each wine got its own glass so it was easy to re-visit and compare the full lineup.

• 2008 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  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.

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• 2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The nose is full and complex, delivering cherries as well as salami and scents of tree bark in the forest. It's juicy on the palate, with a tart kick on the mid palate that I enjoy. Blackberries and limes deliver nicely, along with some rhubarb flavors. Big acidity dries things out fully, and a little bit of heat shows itself on the finish. Nice blackberry and citrus flavors linger on the finish. 90-

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• 2006 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The nose has lots going on. It shows a lot of smoky character, like a pile of blackberries set beside the grill. The bouquet is inviting and dark, with a hint of roast beef and stems mixing with the other scents. Dry black earth flavors run along the sides of the palate quickly while full blackberries settle on the front. Acidity rolls in wonderfully in the middle giving a tart feel to the blackberries. The acidity then slides to the sides of my mouth, drying the corners out like crazy while blackberry flavors settle in the center. The stems from the nose show themselves as the tannins set in on the finish. The structure dries everything out together, and the fruit lingers nicely.

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• 2005 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Blackberry scents are mixed in with orange zest and some bacon. The nose is full and complex, with the zesty notes becoming more prominent later. It's gentle on the palate up front, and then the fruit blooms. Full cherry flavors settle on the mid palate. The tannins evolve slowly, long out onto the finish while full acidity works well all the way across the palate. A ghost of minerality shows itself later. Cherry juice persists on the finish, but the structure outlasts it for now.

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• 2004 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The nose is full and rich, with green pepper and hot brick scents swirling around with smoky blackberries. The nose alone is complex and engaging! Age has provided solid benefits to this wine already. The tannins are full and smooth, and I really like how this feels on the palate. Cherry flavors are very dark, and the bloom in intensity on the mid palate and then they slooooowwwly fade away on the finish. The tannins are full, but well balanced from beginning to end. This is just lovely right now! 92+

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• 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Blackberries and stems on the nose mix with faint smoke and pie crust scents. It reminds me of a lot of characteristics I associate with Cabernet Sauvignon. Cherries and dark grapes, with stems, appear on the palate. The pie crust from the nose shows through with the fruit on the mid palate. The tannins are full, and they quickly rise above the fruit as the finish sets in. The finish dries everything out fully, and a bit of heat is apparent.

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• 2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Rich, round cherries and blackberries with pie crust show on the nose along with a faint savory component and summer flowers. Cherry flavors with skins and a bit of minerality show up on the palate. The full acidity gives a nice zippy feeling on the beginning. The tannins are kind of mellow, and the acidity is full on the mid palate which I like. Some tomato skins show up toward the finish. I like how the structure has matured here.

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• 2000 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The nose has a spicy character, with the full cherry scents mixed in with herbal notes of licorice, and cola, and a mineral component as well. The cola flavors deliver on the palate, but only in the sense of the flavors, not with the sweetness and texture associated with the soft drink! Clean and juicy cherries work well with this, and acidity dries nicely and evenly throughout the experience. It sits fully on the mid palate, and some dark stems linger through the finish. Tannins set in to dry things out very late on the finish.

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