Dom. Chante-Perdrix Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2006
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Spectator
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The red wine is made in the traditional manner, with ageing in the large oad casks and bottling from 18-24 months after the harvest. It is firm, rich, and spicy, developing slowly to a warm, satisfyingly complex maturity.
"Chante Perdrix produces one of the more exotic and intriguing wines of Chateauneuf du Pape. In top vintages, such as 1989, this is an undeniably flamboyant and dramatic wine. The estate is modestly sized (45 acres), and the red wine is made from a traditional blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 6% Muscardin, and 2% other varietals. The average age of….(the) vineyards is an impressive 55 years. Additionally, this is one of the few single-estate vineyards with the entire vineyard located in the Southern part of the appellation, in the sector known as Condorcet……Guy Nicolet, a quiet and unassuming man, diminutive in stature, produces wines that are the reverse of his personality. Enormously fruity, voluptuous in texture and extroverted, they represent Chateauneuf du Pape at its most seductive. Fanciers of this style are best advised to drink Chante Perdrix within the first 10-15 years of (its) life. Although not one of the appellation's longest-lived wines, it is one of the most delicious." - Robert M. Parker, Jr. Wines of the Rhône Valley, 2nd Edition (1997)
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Perfumed up front, with incense and macerated cherry notes giving way to a stylish palate that shows sandalwood, mineral, sage and raspberry flavors. Drink now through 2018.
Other Vintages
2007-
Spectator
Wine
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.