2017 Tour Saint-Michel - Chateauneuf-du-Pape Feminessance
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More inky and saturated in color, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Feminessance is an even split of Grenache and Syrah brought up in 50% new barrels. Reminding me of a Pomerol with its deep red and black fruits, lead pencil, ground pepper, and earthy aromas and flavors, it has remarkable purity of fruit, ripe, polished tannins, subtle background oak, and a great finish. It has a solid modern slant, yet it stays beautifully balanced, layered, and seamless, with loads to love. Starting in 2007, proprietress Mireille Fabre has been fashioning brilliant wines from this family estate. Her 2016s last year were some of the wines of the vintage and she’s not far off again with her 2017. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste her 2018s but this is an up and coming estate that deserves more attention and recognition in the market.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Half of the barrel-aged 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Feminessance, a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, went into new oak. So there's a slightly confectionary note and plenty of vanilla on the nose, sitting alongside ripe cherries. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, this wine shows a bit sturdier structure than the other cuvées, but it also seems less fun, like it's trying a bit too hard to be serious.