2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes
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Another fine showing, from a wine that has seemingly yet to go through a closed phase, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes—45% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, plus 10% Syrah—exudes scents of chocolate, mocha and dark fruit. Full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in the mouth, it's nonetheless deceptively easy to drink, finishing long and mouthwatering.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
Brilliant magenta. Aromas of fresh berries, spicecake, candied licorice and potpourri on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with energetic blackberry and bitter cherry flavors; a smoky mineral element adds spine and back-end cut. The floral quality repeats strongly on the finish, which features sneaky tannins and persistent spiciness.
The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has a voluptuous, sexy texture, brilliant depth of fruit, fine tannins, and a purity of fruit that's hard to find in this vintage. It's a thrill a minute, and while it's approachable today, it will keep for 15-20 years. 416 cases.