2012 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Val de Dieu
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Tasting notes
Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and black raspberry on the highly perfumed nose, with a suave floral element adding complexity. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering pliant red and dark berry flavors and hints of vanilla and smoky minerals. Closes smooth, sappy and very long, with excellent clarity and spicy lift. This very well-balanced wine possesses the balance to age but also abundant upfront fruit to make it quite appealing now.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
A knockout bottle of wine, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Val de Dieu is made from 78% Grenache, 13% Syrah and 9% Mourvedre, is completely destemmed, and aged 18 months in new demi-muid, of which every trace is soaked up. Showing fabulous sweetness and purity on the nose, with black raspberry, black cherry liqueur, crushed flowers, white pepper and hints of licorice, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, solid mid-palate depth and ultra-fine tannin. I think it will age beautifully, but given its polish and seamlessness, it’s a superb drink even now.
Brilliant ruby. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are lifted and sharpened by notes of peppery spices and smoky minerals. Fleshy but lively and precise on the palate, with sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that put on weight with aeration. Silky tannins give shape to the finish, which features a suave floral pastille nuance and noteworthy power.