2007 Domaine de Saint Siffrein Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Incredibly impressive and showing the class of the vintage, the 2007 Domaine de Saint Siffrein Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault that’s aged all in larger oak casks for 12 months. It displays a textbook profile with copious amounts of smoked Grenache fruit, nori, melted licorice, flowers, and garrigue like qualities on the nose. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, powerful Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has a seamless texture, decadent fruit, impeccable balance, and a lengthy finish where more of the wine’s structure shows. This opened up beautifully over the evening, and is a stunning wine that should continue to shine for 10-12 year.
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Jancis Robinson MW
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Ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blackcurrant, cherry-cola and incense, with a suave note of rose gaining strength with air. Broad, pliant, gently sweet dark berry flavors become firmer with air and show a complex array of floral and herbal qualities. The finish leaves sweet cassis and cola notes behind, along with a hint of candied flowers. This will be drinking well soon.
The finest effort I have yet tasted from this estate, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is composed of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault. Its traditional upbringing included 100% aging in old foudres. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet, juicy kiss of kirsch liqueur intermixed with blacker fruits, raspberries, licorice, camphor, and hints of lavender and incense. The wine exhibits terrific concentration, full-bodied intensity, and a 45-50-second finish. This sensational Chateauneuf du Pape will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 15-20 years. Owned by one of the appellation’s oldest families, whose history extends back to the late 19th century, proprietor Claude Chastan is a gentleman farmer whose family began to estate bottle in the early fifties. Saint-Siffrein has 35 acres of vines, all in the northern end of Chateauneuf du Pape in two great lieux-dits, Palestor and Cabrieres. Occasionally, St.-Siffrein produces a special cuvee from 60- to 100-year-old vines called Terre d’Abel, but I did not see one in 2007, and do not know if they made one. Various American importers, including J A O Wine Imports, McLean, VA; tel. (703) 848-2473; European Wine Import, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 426-0980, and Vintage Wine Marketing, Napa, CA; www.vintagewinemarketing.com
Deep ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet and smoked meat. Ripe and fleshy, with deep black and blue fruit flavors, velvety texture and a sexy note of candied flowers. Opulent, palate-coating and sweet, with excellent finishing clarity and cling. This is wearing its richness gracefully.