2008 Paul Avril Clos des Papes CdP Rouge
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Tasting notes
Undoubtedly one of the best Châteauneufs of the vintage, Clos des Papes's 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape was in surprisingly fine form. Full-bodied but wonderfully silky with age, it shows developing aromas and flavors of tree bark, cola, dried spices, red cherries and white button mushrooms. While I wouldn't expect it to last forever, it should provide delicious drinking over the next 5 years or so. It was made from tiny yields of 16 hectoliters per hectare and reached 14.7% alcohol in what was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhône.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Dusty, dried spice nose with lots of energy. Lovely sweetness and fluidity. Already fun to drink with an edge of animal but no suggestion of brett. Very clean and fruity and sweet. Transparent. Already lovely. And somehow it seems refreshing. (JR)
Fragrant, lifted character with a little volatility – reminds me of Amarone in some ways – which comes to dominate the palate, actually, and I think it would get tiring after a glass. (RH)
About the producer
Few estates have shaped the identity of Châteauneuf-du-Pape quite like Clos des Papes. For generations, the Avril family has remained devoted to a single benchmark cuvée, crafted from more than twenty vineyard parcels to express the appellation at its finest.