JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  Issue #9, 9/25/2011 (link)

  (Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Josh Raynolds
  March/April 2011, IWC Issue #155 (link)

  (Vignobles Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition) Subscribe to see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  10/19/2010 (link)

  (Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  11/9/2010 (link)

  (ROYER Tradition Chateauneuf) 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Dear Friends, Nothing like wine bottled to order. First of all, yesterday’s 2009 Cotes du Rhone offer had one of the largest responses of the year (thank you) but many of the order requests asked for a companion example - a well-priced 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape that was also an ambassador for the growing season – here you go...bottled just for you. Jean Royer is an anomaly. He produces wine for his family and friends (not for critics) with the lost art of tradition as his guide. While he experiments with “fun” cuvees (one produced solely from Syrah, a complete departure for Chateauneuf), the crux of his effort every year goes into this – what he simply calls the “Tradition”. The Tradition cuvee is his defining stamp of the growing season – no oak, no tricks, no nothing. It is raised 100% in tank and old-time cement with a leaning that has more in common with the classic textural allure of Rayas than not. If you were to sum-up Royer in a few words it would be the “anti-modern”. This is a vintner with the pride of old-vine Grenache by his side – old-vine Grenache interpreted in a 1970’s/1980’s way, not the oak-tannin, black and gritty circa 2010 way. For Royer, the texture, sap and color of Chateauneuf du Pape has as much in common with Vosne Romanee as the Rhone and he’s here to insure the style his grandfather worked so hard to perfect will not go by the wayside. In truth, isn’t that the Chateauneuf most of us fell in love with in the first place? A wine like Les Cailloux’s 1990 Cuvee Centenaire will explain everything promptly – to your intellect as well as your passion. With that as a backdrop, what makes today’s offer so interesting is Royer’s commitment to your education and enjoyment – a bottling of 2009 Tradition will be done this week expressly for you, literally from tank to bottle to our door (this is earlier than normal, the bottling is usually in February, but Royer tasted the wine yesterday and loved it so much that he wishes to preserve the freshness and send it on its way – this will give you a read on the vintage ahead of the curve – a wonderful and personal gesture that does not happen every day). Here is a translated tasting note from yesterday’s sample at Royer: (October 27/2010, finished Tradition wine for bottle): “Medium intensity, deep translucent ruby. Compote of jellied fruits, black and red fruit. Very silky, good surprising acidity! Black raspberry and some blue fruit notes. Very drinkable, not a wine that calls for the braggarts attention or gets in your face - beautiful silk, delicate jellied sweet fruit, soft but fine tannin and good acidity again for freshness. What a success! Not for the score collector or the extracted chase, a wine for those that drink Grenache wine, not read about it. very Burgundian, Chambolle, maybe. Can drink well now with a delicious sap but the acidity, balance, and fine tannin give it a long life like my father’s wine. No easy to resist drinking them right away but that is the success of the red Grenache raised softly in a Pinot Noir style”. More please? I almost forgot, Royer has barely increased the price over the 2007 (even though he likes this more than the 2007) - for , I believe you be more than lured by its noble charms... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a throw-back style that is the essence of a by-gone era in Chateauneuf-du-Pape (so is the price). This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance: 2009 Jean Royer Chateauneuf du Pape “Tradition” - (compare at $30-35+, you can check pricing of the 2007) FIRST COME FIRST SERVED up to 24/person until we run out To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to depart the cave – it will arrive in Dec (please check OARS for local pick up after Dec 15th). It will ship during the Spring shipping season. Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Click here to view the status of your orders in O.A.R.S.