2008 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Thierry’s 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape is a good wine in the vintage. Giving up plenty of earth, pepper and forest floor-like qualities, it shows more and more fruit with time in the glass. You can tell it’s from a cooler vintage, but it has good richness, medium-bodied depth and a lively, fresh profile that’s ideally suited for drinking over the coming couple of years. I’m not sure if this estate produces one of the longest-lived Chateauneuf du Papes out there, or if it just seems that way due to the fact that they have such a fantastic library of old wines and I’m able to taste more of them! Nevertheless, Clos du Mont Olivet, which is now run by Thierry Sabon, is a brilliant estate that fashions traditional, age-worthy Chateauneuf du Papes that have incredibly broad drink windows. Various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300; David Hinkle, North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910; Dionysus Imports, Manassas, VA; tel. (703) 392-7073; Ideal Wines and Spirits, Medford, MA; tel. (617) 395-3300; The Wine Company, St. Paul, MN; tel. (651) 487-1212; and Import Wines, Middleton, WI; tel. (608) 833-8622
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bright red. Lively red berry aromas are complemented by notes of garrigue and white pepper. Spicy and precise, offering sweet raspberry and redcurrant flavors that show surprising depth and sneaky power. Closes on a sweet note, with lingering florality and very fine tannins. This wine will be drinkable soon.
The 2008 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a touch more round and fruity then the Cuvée Unique bottling, showing a similar profile of baking spices, saddle leather, and garrigue with ripe cherry fruit. The palate is medium bodied with ripe fruit covering a moderately structured frame. There’s good texture, solid ripeness and freshness, and a clean finish. Very good, it should drink well over the following 8 to 10 years. Tasted twice.
Medium red. Fresh raspberry and cherry aromas lifted by rose and herbs. Juicy, moderately concentrated red fruit flavors are framed by silky tannins and pick up a note of anise on the sweet, lingering back end. Very approachable wine, but finishes with surprising thrust. Sabon says this is meant for drinking over the next few years "but the balance will enable it to age longer than some might expect."