Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Delivers a beautifully pure and velvety note of cassis that holds sway over an ample range of blackberry paste, blood orange, singed apple wood and bergamot notes. The long finish shows succulent flesh and a buried iron accent. The grip is integrated, the acidity mouthwatering and the depth impressive for the vintage.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Coming from smaller-than-normal yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is drinking well. According to proprietor Paul-Vincent Avril, it's a "normal blend" for the estate. Scents of leather, pressed flowers and black cherries emerge from the glass, while the in the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and silky, and it adds a complex note of Mourvèdre-derived truffle-mushroom-tree bark on the finish. Drink now and over the next decade. Best after 2015
Other Vintages
2021-
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Vinous
- Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert - Vinous
-
Suckling
James
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
- Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
- Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Wine Cellar
International
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Parker
Robert
There are no fewer than 24 different plots of land, which include some of the most beautiful soils in the Chateauneuf vineyards. The geographical separation of our vineyards enables us to control ripeness at harvest time, since each sector does not necessarily reach the exact same stage at the same time. It also allows us to combine different varieties planted to the south. "Clos des Papes makes both red wines and white wines (10% of the production) for long-keeping, using traditional vinification and maturing. As I mentioned previously, our yields are deliberately low (an average of 28hl/hectare). and then undergo further strict sorting, to uphold our quality.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.