2001 Cuvée Félicien Diffonty et Fils du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape SixtineReserve
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The first year the estate destemmed all grape varieties, the 2001 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre that’s aged for 12 months (sometimes longer) in a combination of small barrels and old foudres. Showing consistently over the past couple of years, and this showing was no exception, with the wine exhibiting sweet cassis and blackberry like fruits framed by vanilla, raw beef notes, and spice on the nose. Full bodied and beautifully fruited, with a concentrated, rich mid-palate, and a structured finish, this should continue to drink well for another decade at the least. Those that like a more traditional aromatic profile should give this another 3-5 years.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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The deep ruby/purple-colored 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape reveals Grenache’s powerful side in its intense kirsch, licorice, peppery aromatics. An opulent attack is followed by a multilayered, full-bodied mid-palate along with considerable structure and headiness in the finish. This is a large-scaled, but impeccably well-balanced Chateauneuf to drink between 2005-2016. One of the appellation’s young, dynamic revolutionaries, Jean-Marc Diffonty, has produced his finest Chateauneuf du Papes to date. Additionally, prices remain modest for what’s in the bottle. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Mervyn Hecht Wines, Santa Monica, CA; tel. (408) 685-1148
(a blend of 40% grenache, 30% syrah and 30% mourvedre) Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, bitter chocolate, violet, mint and spicy oak on the nose; intriguing suggestions of mourvedre. At once dense and penetrating, with rather oaky flavors of blackberry, violet and eucalyptus. Finishes with a hint of leather, but also a slight dryness from the wood element.