2017 Chateauneuf Du Pape

2017 Chateauneuf Du Pape

The hot streak continues for the Southern Rhone. 2017 represents yet another fantastic vintage for the Southern Rhone:
“As I predicted last year, 2017 has turned out to be a brilliant vintage which surpasses 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.” -Jeb Dunnuck


2017 Clos St. Jean Chateauneuf du Pape V.V...$49.99
As always, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes has a touch more dark fruits, more concentration, and more structure, which makes it less approachable but more age-worthy. Blackcurrants, ground pepper, bouquet garni, crushed rocks, and garrigue notes all emerge from this structured, focused, yet ripe and beautifully textured Châteauneuf Du Pape that's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.
Rated 94+/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 93-95/100 Wine Advocate


2017 Clos St Jean Combe Fous Chateauneuf Du Pape...$109.99
The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous checks in as a normal blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault, raised in tank and demi-muids. Kirsch liqueur, white flowers, graphite, ground pepper, and obvious minerality all emerge from this ethereal yet powerful, concentrated 2017. It's very much in the more Provençal, elegant style of this vintage, yet has classic Clos Saint Jean purity, style, and power. It's a gorgeous wine.
Rated 97/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 95-97/100 Wine Advocate



2017 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape...$115.98
One of the strongest wines in the vintage is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Vincent Avril. This beauty has everything you could ask for. As with the 2018, the blend is heavily shifted toward Mourvèdre, and it offers a mammoth bouquet of black cherries, graphite, cured meats, Asian spices, and assorted garrigue-like nuances. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated, it stays straight and focused on the palate (whereas the 2016 is more expansive and voluptuous), with a stacked mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, and fabulous length. You’re going to want bottles of this in the cellar, and comparing the 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2017 over the coming two decades is going to be a treat.
Rated 98+/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 94-96/100 Wine Advocate


2017 Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition...$48.99
I loved the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape, and I’d certainly be happy with a case in the cellar. Offering a pure, elegant, incredibly Grenache-driven profile of sweet black raspberries, incense, violets, and garrigue, it’s medium to full-bodied, ethereal, and elegant on the palate. It’s already hard to resist yet will keep for 10-15 years.
Rated 93/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 92-94/100 Wine Advocate

2017 Domaine Giraud Grenaches des Pierre...$102.99
Lastly, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre offers slightly more purity and elegance, yet certainly doesn’t come up short on power or concentration. Stunning black cherries, currants, underbrush, ground pepper, and earthy, rocky mineral notes all give way to a deeper, darker, rich, concentrated wine that’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. It will see its 20th birthday in fine form.
Rated 96+/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 96-98/100 Wine Advocate