Rhone Valley's Legendary Vintage
Robert Parker on the '07 Vintage
"...the finest vintage I have ever tasted in Châteauneuf du Pape - 2007. In my thirty years of evaluating these wines, I don't think any vintage has achieved the heights of complexity, richness, and overall purity and balance that 2007 did."
-Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
2007 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape
Pre-Arrival Price $65.99
"The 2007 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape should ultimately eclipse the 2005 and 1998. It appears to be one of the finest wines made by Daniel Brunier and his brother. Its deep ruby color is accompanied by a superb nose of nori seaweed wrappers, licorice, pepper, tobacco leaf, and gobs of sweet black cherry and black currant fruit. Full-bodied with a fabulous texture, purity, and freshness (a consistent hallmark of this vintage), a juicy, rich, layered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts for 45+ seconds. Although young, the tannin, acidity, and alcohol are all well-integrated. Typically, this wine tends to be dormant for 3-5 years after bottling, then emerge brilliantly. Therefore, I would wait until 2012 before pulling a cork on this one. Drink it over the following 20-25 years."
-Rated 94-96+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape should ultimately eclipse the 2005 and 1998. It appears to be one of the finest wines made by Daniel Brunier and his brother. Its deep ruby color is accompanied by a superb nose of nori seaweed wrappers, licorice, pepper, tobacco leaf, and gobs of sweet black cherry and black currant fruit. Full-bodied with a fabulous texture, purity, and freshness (a consistent hallmark of this vintage), a juicy, rich, layered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts for 45+ seconds. Although young, the tannin, acidity, and alcohol are all well-integrated. Typically, this wine tends to be dormant for 3-5 years after bottling, then emerge brilliantly. Therefore, I would wait until 2012 before pulling a cork on this one. Drink it over the following 20-25 years."
-Rated 94-96+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
2007 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape
Pre-Arrival Price $89.99
"The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape had not been assembled at the time of my visit, so I had the privilege of tasting all the different component parts. My ratings were (91-93) for the Cinsault, (92-
94) for the Counoise, (93-95) for the Grenache, (90-93) for the Syrah, and (94-96) for the Mourvedre. The Mourvedre and Grenache represent 65% of the final blend, so I tend to think this wine will fall within the (93-95+) range. Even though Beaucastel rarely uses as much Grenache as the other famous Chateauneuf du Pape producers, their 2007 is very much in keeping with the vintage. It exhibits beautiful freshness, superb maturity, great fragrance, full-bodied power, and more seamlessness than the 2006. This may be their greatest vintage of Beaucastel since 2001 and 1998. It should age effortlessly for a minimum of two decades."-Rated 93-95+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
No comments:
Post a Comment