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: Loads of dark and blue forest berries, cherries, only hints of red fruit, sweet but still made in a fresh and cool style. Very good intensity, precision, very harmonious and balanced. A wall of noticeable but very smooth tannins, super fresh acidity. At times wild but overall already a big treat to drink. Very long dark fruit driven finish. Quite singular wine with a fruit expression and style I've never found in a CDP. Reminiscent of a Bordeaux. Not decanted, good from the go but improving with time. One or the other hour in the decanter might do good things.

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 wine couldn't hide the very hot vintage and showed a tad of heat. Not even close to the amazing balance and grace of the 2016. Very well delineated ripe red fruit and floral aromas (specifically some alpine flower I can't name but smell so clearly) and clear leather/tobacco/barnyard smell which nicely complemented the fruit/floral aromas. In addition some herbal notes. The fruit is borderline ripe for my taste but well kept in check by the other aromas. Smooth tannins and a good freshness. This is a good wine but I fear it will never be a great wine with this level of alcohol. Give it some air if you open a bottle today.

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: From a vintage with much less pedigree and that shows in terms of depth and precision. Nevertheless, for me this was on par with the much better 2015 vintage as it had no heat and no problem with too much ripeness. Minerality, smoke, rather dark fruit profile, floral aromas on the nose and palate. A very dark wine with smooth tannins and a fresh frame which drinks very well today. For sure one to order from restaurant wine lists every day (no decant necessary).

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: Couldn't hide the difficult year. Muted nose, sweet palate with ripe red fruit, some cola and herbal scents. Good structure and balance but short in every way. Nothing wrong but nothing exciting.

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: I've had this wine a few times after its release and it developed well since then. This is an opulent wine with layers of dark red fruit, some underbrush, coffee, cacao, some first nice signs of age with some barnyard, truffle scents. With all its opulent fruit is still a fresh and balanced wine thanks to a high and well-integrated acidity. Alcohol level and ripeness, which are a problem in the 2007 and 2015 vintage, are much better kept in check here. A good wine which doesn't need any decanting to shine.

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: We didn't decant the wines for our vertical and I suspect that this 2010 vintage would have needed 5+ hours in the decanter to show its true soul. Rather muted on the nose. Sweet, precise fruit, some herbs, leather and earthy notes. A very structured wine, not yet showing its full potential. A tad of opulence, but in a classical frame. Much closer to the 2016 than the 2015. A mix between 2012 and 2016. Promising. If you pop a bottle today give it a long decant (or better just wait). 94+

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: While the fruit is borderline ripe (for my taste) it is masked by a layers of herbs and a perfect acidity which keeps this bold wine, with a wall of mellowed tannins in balance. Sweet, fresh, precise red and dark fruit. Lots of strawberries and cherries. At first it ranked below the 2010 and 2012 but the more time in the glass it had the better it got. It definitely needs some air and is a quite complete wine today but with a structure to age for decades.

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.

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: High octane, high extraction, too much ripeness. I can't get over that. Of course it is very complex, well-defined and deep. Four out of the group of eight voted it wine of the flight (with the 75, 04 and 08 in the same flight). But nobody voted it wine of the night. As mentioned above you really have to have a high(er) tolerance for ripeness and alcohol. Good, mellowed tannins, sweet fruit, not fresh enough to make it balanced enough.

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: The style of the 2000s with a focus on late picking and ripeness shows here. Although not a particularly hot or dry vintage this is a high octane, high ripeness wine with port-like fruit and roasted herbs. Good aged CDP structure with mellowed tannins and good acidity. Overall, clearly lower complexity than the 2007 but also less extreme.

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 was a big surprise. Fill level was roughly 6cm, the cork crumbled in 1000 pieces, no professional or Cellartracker reviews and in Parker's vintage chart the 1975 CDP vintage got the lowest rating along 2002 and 1987 (60). Hence, I expected a dead wine. But the fears proved to be utterly unfounded. Layers and layers of ripe sweet red fruit along, tobacco, leather, an earthiness, some barnyard funk on the nose and more pronounced on the palate. Good precision and length. A Burgundy-like structure, very fine tannins, good acidity. Everything is quite harmonious. Even after 45 minutes in the glass the wine did not collapse and remained on this unexpectedly high and clean level.