2015 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Admiral G
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The entire range of wines from Vaudieu is impressive this year, but we start with the seductive 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Amiral G, a pure-Grenache cuvée aged in demi-muids. Cherries, stone fruit and a touch of garrigue on the nose, supple tannins on the palate and a long, spicy-silky finish tinged with vanilla make this a true crowd-pleaser. Despite it's early appeal, it's a classic beauty with the bone structure to age well. Less than 300 cases were produced, so don't wait on this one!
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
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My favorite in the lineup is the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Amiral G., and like all the cuvées here, it has a voluptuous, sexy, yet elegant style. Black raspberries, framboise, spice-box, and floral notes all give way to a full-bodied, powerful, yet incredibly elegant Châteauneuf that has a weightless texture and a blockbuster finish. It's already drinking nicely, yet should cruise for a decade. This is another great lineup from Chateau de Vaudieu, who have risen to the top of the heap recently. They make a perfumed, elegant style of wine, and have started releasing numerous single parcel wine from vines all located around the estate. While the 2016s are a clear step up, the 2015s has terrific purity and elegance.
Bright magenta. Powerful, mineral-laced raspberry, cherry and incense aromas pick up exotic suggestions of Asian spices and blood orange with air. Palate-staining red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors deepen and spread out with air while retaining vivacity and focus. Smoothly blends power and finesse; a zesty mineral quality adds cut to the strikingly long, floral-driven finish.