2020 Château de la Font du Loup Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Puy Rolland Vieilles Vignes

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 93.3 points

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  1/12/2024 - kakpoo Likes this wine: 93 Points

  I read a few reviews hyping this wine so I decided to try a bottle.
  
  Day 1: On pop 'n pour, I didn't particularly care for this wine. It tasted bold with big fruit that when combined with the 14.5% alcoholic aromatic lift, resulted in aromas that came off as overly ripe/baked fruit that was not particularly inviting to my senses. (I don't generally like big, bold, high alcohol wines except for Barlolo/Barbaresco.) The hot aromas and flavors combined with slightly oily texture and ultra soft finish were just a combination that didn't resonate with me. So I corked the remaining 2/3rds of the bottle and left the bottle in my basement, which is right about 55 degrees.
  
  Day 2: Not tasted
  
  Day 3: coming out of the cellar at 55 degrees, I poured 1 ounce into a glass and let it sit out for 5 minutes and tasted. Quite pretty today, especially at this cooler temperature. The aromas today are less lifted by alcohol and have more fresh/tart/crunchy fruit mixed in with the overripe notes creating an experience that has more depth, nuance and restraint, with even some slightly darker fruit notes appearing in the background. The wine has more noticeable acid on the palate today, and seems less oily. The finish today is much longer, with some mineral components coming through and the retro nasal experience late on the finish is quite wonderful. 93 Points
  
  If you plan to drink this in 2024, I would recommend both opening it a day or two in advance (or doing a 4-6 hour decant) while also drinking it a few degrees cooler than you would normally a red wine. Ideally, age this at least 3-5 years before tasting or follow the afore mentioned advice, or open this for your guests that like New World examples of Southern Rhone style wines.

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  1/28/2023 - DaveInPA Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Classic CNP smooth balanced not too big. This will be better in a few years. Lacks some complexity in early 2023.

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  1/27/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points

  Produced from 100% old vine Grenache, the wine is polished, soft, elegant and refined, there is freshness and purity in the nose and mouth, leaving you with loads of sweet, ripe, pure kirsch from start to finish. Drink from 2022-2034.

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  9/28/2022 - GTFreek wrote:

  100 year old vines, all Grenache. Medium plus nose shows spice, dried red fruits, rose stem. Palate is lovely, spice layers, dried red fruits, pomegranate, raspberry pith, orange zest, friendly structure with medium tannins, med plus acid and alcohol. Pretty, nice example, should age well.

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