Clos du Mont Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2009
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
This red has a good sappy intensity, delivering flavors of kirsch and blackberry preserves that course along, followed by notes of graphite and iron that take over on the finish. Approachable now, but has the cut to cellar short term. Drink now through 2019. 4,000 cases made.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape kicks up the intensity ever so slightly. It has a darker ruby hue and an elegant nose of black raspberries, sandy, loamy soil notes, roasted Provencal herbs, and hints of pepper and spice in a medium to full-bodied finish. A blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, and Vaccarese aged totally in old wood foudres, it should drink nicely for 8-10 years.
88-90 points.
Other Vintages
2021-
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
- Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
While the family are strict traditionalists, they still allow us to make our North Berkeley Barrel Selection from wine raised in used Burgundy barrels we provide. Jean-Claude Sabon performs most of the vineyard work himself, while his son Thierry (who has a Ph.D in physics) manages winemaking duties.
Clos du Mont Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape bursts forth from the glass with aromatics of crushed vanilla beans, Mexican chocolate, coffee, and a sandalwood warmth that we’ve come to recognize as the Mont Olivet signature. From 80-year-old vines, our barrel selection wine is usually 65% Grenache, with the remainder Syrah and Mourvèdre.
"La Cuvee du Papet," named for Joseph Sabon, Sr., (papet means “Grandpa”) is a selection of the finest lots in the cellar, and is acknowledged by many to be one of the most age-worthy, fascinating wines produced in the appellation.
North Berkeley Imports
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.