2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois
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Tasting notes
Brilliant ruby-red. Powerful mineral- and spice-tinged red fruit aromas are complemented by candied licorice and lavender. Distinctly lively and sharply delineated, offering intense raspberry and spicecake flavors and an exotic Asian spice quality. Shows superb clarity and thrust on the finish, which is firmed by smooth, harmonious tannins that fade into the wine's sweet, juicy fruit. This graceful wine is delicious now but I'd keep my hands off it for at least another five years,
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Almost as good as the Barbe Rac, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois (100% Grenache from 100-year-old vines and clay soils) is a stunner that offers loads of upfront dark fruits, spiced cherries, chocolate, garrigue and a slight saline-like minerality on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied and impressively concentrated, with rock-star texture, notable purity and good underlying structure, it’s a serious, fruit-loaded Chateauneuf that will have 10-15 years of longevity.
Saturated ruby. Aromas of red berry preserves, smoky minerals and potpourri are lifted by a suave spicy quality that carries through to the finish. Lush and sweet in the mouth, offering spicy raspberry and floral pastille flavors along with a touch of spicecake. Closes silky and long, with lingering mineral and floral notes.
Vineyard soil: galets. 100% Grenache. Vinified and matured in cement tanks for 14-16 months. Crimson. Sweet and lively and vaguely candified. Easy and round. Not for the long term. But punchy and fun and well balanced. (JR)
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Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro
Red
Dry