2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
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Tasting notes
One of the top whites of the vintage, the 2006 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc delivers a seriously pure bouquet of quince and honeyed peach fruits, green almonds, flowers, and beautiful background minerality. Still very youthful, and showing surprising freshness for the vintage – which normally yielded more dense, rich aromatics – this fleshes out over the evening and possesses a medium to full bodied palate with loads of texture, solid focus, and a heady, powerful finish. While outstanding now (and the safe bet is to drink up), I would hold this for another 5-7 years, at which point, I think it will show much more complexity and interest.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is beginning to reveal more quince and minerality characteristics. While it is less exuberant than the 2007, it is beautifully balanced and full-bodied with excellent definition as well as length. It has not yet begun to shut down. I have participated in so many exceptional tastings with Paul Avril that it is difficult for me to accept that his brilliant son, Vincent, may be eclipsing the work of his father. Vincent, trained in Burgundy, appears to be pushing things to an even higher level of quality. Nothing has changed in these cellars; everything is still as traditional as you will find. All the wines are kept in foudre, and the red Chateauneuf du Pape blend is one of only a handful in the appellation that contains increasing amounts of Muscardin, Vaccarese, and Counoise along with 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and some Syrah. The white Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the longest lived of the appellation, and that’s saying something. The Avrils have proven me wrong many times by opening old bottles that I would have believed to be dead, but are still full of life and vivacity. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is beginning to reveal more quince and minerality characteristics. While it is less exuberant than the 2007, it is beautifully balanced and full-bodied with excellent definition as well as length. It has not yet begun to shut down. Oct 2008, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Few estates have shaped the identity of Châteauneuf-du-Pape quite like Clos des Papes. For generations, the Avril family has remained devoted to a single benchmark cuvée, crafted from more than twenty vineyard parcels to express the appellation at its finest.
Product details
Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc / Garnacha Blanca, Clairette
White
Dry