2009 Collection Alain Corcia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Andre Eleazar

Named after Corcia’s father, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Andre Eleazar may be the finest wine of this group. It is the richest and fullest-bodied displaying copious amounts of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice and garrigue. The 2009s performed very well. All are meant to be drunk in their first 7-8 years of life. Given the pricing of Corcia’s wines, these all represent very good value. The Chateauneuf du Papes are all aged in older Burgundy barrels, and the production in 2010 is especially small because of the poor flowering of the Grenache that year which resulted in a loss of 30-40% of the crop in Chateauneuf du Pape. The other Chateauneuf du Pape cuvees (named after Alain Corcia’s wife, children and father) are slightly different blends, but all are essentially the same. They are all medium to full-bodied with the 2010s very primary and slightly more restrained with higher acids as well as darker fruits. An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wine, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, Calvert-Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400, and Behind The Cellar Door Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. (248) 925-6639