Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010

Professional Ratings

• 99 Jeb Dunnuck

  Utterly classic Clos de Papes in every way, the 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape is still youthful and in its early adolescent phase, offering a beautiful mix of still pure, clean fruit and more peppery, spicy, leather, and complex Southern Rhône-like street market goodness. Rich and powerful on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and a monster of a finish. It's just a beautiful, quintessential example of this First Growth-like estate in the South of France.

  
  

• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  Unprompted, Paul-Vincent Avril pulled a 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape from the admirable library stock he maintains at Clos des Papes. Who was I to say no? A stupendous effort that seamlessly marries full-bodied richness with a sense of lightness and ease, it's really just now maturing, although it has been drinkable for some time. Leather accents raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose, while the long, silky-textured finish adds delicate notes of star anise, peppery spice and black olive. This complex, elegant masterpiece should continue to drink well for another decade and then some. Best after 2015

• 98 Wine Spectator
  Lots of cocoa powder and coffee frame a massive block of dark plum, black currant and fig fruit, while massively endowed tannins stride from start to finish. Cassis, anise and Lapsang souchong tea notes hang in the background for now, but should emerge more with extended cellaring. The very dark, almost brooding finish is dominated by charcoal-coated grip, but the purity still wins out in the end. A very, very large wine. Best from 2017 through 2035.
• 98 Decanter
  Undoubtedly one of the greatest Châteauneuf vintages of recent times, up there with the 1990 - and perhaps the 2016; time will tell. It's deeply coloured still at seven years of age. Deep, dark and brooding on the nose, it's starting to take on some balsamic and forest floor notes. The palate is very harmonious, powerful and assertive, with firm, structural tannins. This is still very fresh, sinewy and tightly wound - it's not ready yet, but will be spectacular when it is.
• 96 James Suckling

  A perfumed nose of wild dark berries, leather, cloves, black olives and dried leaves. It's full-bodied with polished tannins. It's ample with lovely velvety texture. It's slightly punchy on the mid-palate, but remains balanced and focused. Funnelled long finish.

• 90 Vinous

  The 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a serious wine. I vividly remember tasting this red for the first time at the winery shortly after release. Like it did back then, it leaves quite an impression today. The 2010 unwinds in the glass with gorgeous cherry liqueur, raspberry jam, dried lavender, tobacco, cured meat, leather and exotic spice aromas. It is powerful and deep, framed by ripe tannins and a complex finish. Kudos to Paul-Vincent Avril and his team for crafting this ravishing beauty.