Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 94
A solid step up over the ’98, the Close des Papes 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape (one of Paul-Vincent’s favorites) offers a more youthful color to go with Burgundian notes of spice, dried flowers, black cherries and licorice. More fresh and lively, with medium to full-bodied richness, it has a youthful feel and has another decade of longevity.
Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025
Vinous 91
(bottled in March; a blend of 65% grenache, 20% mourvedre, 10% syrah and 5% counoise, muscardelle and vaccarese) Moderately saturated red-ruby. Complex nose melds redcurrant, kirsch, iron, tobacco, mocha and spices. Chewy, intensely flavored and fairly deep, but rather tight following the bottling. As usual for this estate, in a rather claret-like style, without the obvious surmaturite of some Chateauneufs. Firm acidity and sweet, fine tannins give this wine the backbone to age slowly. Finishes with subtle persistence.
JancisRobinson.com 17.0
NB vintage. Dark ruby with a little evolution. Avril thinks 2011 better than 1999. Medium intensity of a gamey nose. Not the richness of the 2006 tasted just beforehand. A little dry on the finish. Not that charming honestly. Quite severe. Dry finish demands careful food matching and decant it! A little lighter than most.
Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017
