2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cotes Capelan
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
A gorgeous ‘09 Châteauneuf-du-Pape that displays stunning freshness and focus, as well as beautiful purity of fruit, the La Ferme du Mont Côtes Capelan is loaded with sweet cherry, cassis, sappy underbrush, licorice, and freshly snipped flowers on the nose. Upfront, perfumed, and downright pretty aromatically, this has a borderline voluptuous profile on the palate, with a medium to full-bodied mouth feel, beautiful polish and texture, and copious amounts of sweet fruit, yet it remains light, fresh, and clean, without ever feeling heavy or cumbersome. The sweetness to the tannin is also notable and was hard to come by in 2009. Upfront and delicious now, it should be even better in 2-3 years, and drink well for 12-15. Very well done and this estate should be on every Châteauneuf-du-Pape lovers radar!
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
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. This estate has essentially come out of nowhere under the guidance of the ambitious, talented and still young proprietor and winemaker, Stephane Vedeau. His 2007s (which I rated very highly) are still infants in terms of development, but remain exceptionally promising. He followed the 2007s with outstanding 2009s and 2010s, with the latter year close to equaling his 2007s. The 2010s enjoy the same natural winemaking (an undefinable term but in this case only microscopic amounts of SO2 are used after malolactic, and none at bottling, and the wines are bottled with neither fining nor filtration). Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800
Stéphane Vedeau’s bottling that was so controversial last year . Mid ruby with real interest and complexity on the nose. Then quite staggeringly sweet on the palate! Surely there is considerable residual sugar here? Apparently 4 g/l is the maximum allowed for wines over 14%. No great follow-through. Tasted on 16 Nov: Fresh AND thick. Very much pushing the limits of ripeness. Super thick. Just a bit foot dragging. (JR)
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. Oct 2011, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro, Cinsault
Red
Dry