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Friday, November 18, 2011

2009 Chateauneuf du Pape are here...


Great 2009 Southern Rhones....in stock now at Forsyth


2009 Domaine Gerard Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape...$55.99
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (which tips the scales around 15% natural alcohol) is a great example of traditional Chateauneuf du Pape winemaking. A dense dark ruby color is followed by a sexy nose of raspberries, ground pepper, spice box, damp earth, kirsch and dark currants. Full-bodied, complex, elegant and already irresistible as the tannins have completely melted away, it can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years.
Rated 95/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2009 Domaine de Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape...$55.99
A candidate for wine of the vintage, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (a tank-aged blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault from 80+ year old vines) is a naked expression of Chateauneuf du Pape that is pure fruit and complexity. Its dense purple color is followed by aromas of melted licorice, charcuterie, Provencal herbs, black currants, roasted meat, plum sauce, seaweed and licorice. It is incredibly complex in both the aromatics and on the palate, full-bodied and super-rich with sweet tannin and low acidity. Enjoy it over the next 15+ years.
Rated 95/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2009 Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee les Origines...$59.99
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines (1,500 cases produced) is a blend of 50% Grenache, a whopping 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah with the latter two components spending time in new oak barrels. All of the fruit comes from vines that are nearly 70 years of age. A great wine with an opaque ruby/purple color, sensational fruit intensity and notes of graphite, lavender, licorice, lead pencil shavings and subtle smoke, it is full-bodied, rich and powerful with low acidity and sweet, velvety tannins. It should drink well for 15+ years.
Rated 95/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2009 Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard...$37.99
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 6% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Counoise, and the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard is composed of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 3% Syrah, and 2% Cinsault. The wines are aged differently, with the Tradition kept in 90% cement and 10% in barrels, and the Cuvee Girard aged in 80% cement and 20% in barrels. The wines are both potentially outstanding in 2009, exhibiting dark ruby colors and plenty of earth, garrigue and kirsch notes and medium to full body. I thought Weygandt's cuvee had slightly more minerality and tannic structure, no doubt because of the higher Mourvedre component. Both should be drunk during their first 10-12 years of life.
Rated 90/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2009 Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale...$65.99
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is one of the great wines of the vintage. A blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, and Terret Noir from vines well over 100 years of age, planted in pure sand, it is kept in concrete tanks prior to bottling. I have been a faithful purchaser of this cuvee since the 1998, and the 2009 can easily rival the brilliant 2007. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by sweet scents of camphor, incense, spring flowers, black currants, black cherries and licorice. Full-bodied with abundant glycerin as well as lofty alcohol and sweet, well-integrated tannin in the finish, it will be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age, and should keep for 15-20.
Rated 92-95/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2009 Le Ferme du Mont Chateauneuf du Pape Cotes Capelan...$61.99
Vedeau's top cuvee is his deep ruby/purple-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cotes Capelan. Revealing a cool climate feel, it offers notes of cool red and black cherries, spring flowers, raspberry liqueur and hints of forest floor as well as lavender. Complex, medium to full-bodied and supple with plenty of sweet tannin, it will be even better in several years and should drink well for 15 years.
Rated 93/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

2009 Vieux Telegraph Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau...
This is crammed with fruit, spice and structure, as braised fig, plum skin, cassis and anise notes wrestle with roasted apple wood, melted red licorice and tar for now. The embedded grip should carry the finish until this assimilates fully. Best from 2014 through 2024. 5,000 cases imported. –JM
Rated 94/100 The Wine Spectator

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