2007 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
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Just pure perfection in wine, the monumental 2007 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes ranks with the top wines in the region as well as vintage. Still youthfully ruby-hued, massive, full-bodied, and opulent, it offers a kaleidoscope-like style in its ripe black cherry, framboise, sweet garrigue, fruitcake, lavender, and charcuterie-like aromas and flavors. It’s a ripe, hedonistic wine yet it holds onto a sense of elegance, purity, and finesse, with silky tannins and a finish that goes on for over a minute. Châteauneuf du Pape (or red wine, for that matter) doesn’t get any better.
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Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
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Pure perfection in a glass, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the tiny handful of truly monumental wines from this hallowed appellation. Deep, concentrated and incredibly balanced, yet packed with character and intensity, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by insanely good notes of black cherries, fruit cake, lavender, garrigue and chocolate. While a blockbuster of a wine, it possesses the telltale elegance, seamlessness and perfume that's the hallmark of this estate and it never puts a foot wrong, with a seamless mid-palate, building, sweet tannin and a great finish. It's a tour de force to drink anytime over the coming decade or more.
Glass-staining ruby. Expansive, highly perfumed aromas of cherry-cola, boysenberry, licorice, pipe tobacco and potpourri, with a bright mineral quality adding urgency. Seamless, palate-staining red and dark berry compote flavors pick up notes of spicecake and candied flowers with air. The finish is almost shockingly lithe, showing strong lift and a persistent floral quality. Sophie Estevenin told me that this wine clocks in at 17.2% alcohol; those who plan on driving home after a few glasses of this nectar have been warned.