2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau Ouest
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Tasting notes
Glistening ruby-red. Red fruit preserves, exotic spices, garrigue and incense on the highly perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering intense raspberry and cherry liqueur, lavender and fruitcake flavors that show impressive energy for the their heft. Velvety tannins frame a strikingly long, spicy finish that emphatically repeats the floral and red fruit notes.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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Old-vine Grenache (80+ years of age) from sandy soils in the named lieu-dit has been translated into a remarkably elegant 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau Ouest. Lively strawberry and raspberry fruit almost vibrates with dramatic tension, picking up hints of lavender and thyme on the long finish. This is medium to full-bodied, but seems almost airy-light in feel, framed by silky tannins. Biodynamic and aged in amphora, it has the substance to back up the buzzwords.
Brilliant violet. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red berries, Asian spices, garrigue and incense expand with air and pick up a smoky mineral aspect. Palate-caressing, appealingly sweet Chambord, cherry cola and spicecake flavors are joined by an exotic floral pastille quality that gains strength on the back half. Juicy, focused and energetic in style, showing superb finishing clarity and smooth tannins that sneak in slowly.
The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Ouest checks in as 100% Grenache that’s sourced from sandy soils on the west side of the famed La Crau lieu-dit. Black cherries, strawberries, licorice, and earthy floral notes all dominate the bouquet of this solid effort. With medium to full body, considerable elegance, and top-notch purity, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for a decade.