Villeneuve Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2010
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Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
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Wine Spectator
A bright, juicy profile, offering lots of linzer torte, loganberry, blueberry, red licorice and damson plum aromas and flavors, with notes of cherry eau-de-vie and cherries jubilee through the finish, which is carried by latent grip. A very energetic, vibrant style.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The beautiful, dense plum/purple-colored 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Vieilles Vignes (a blend of 70% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, Cinsault and the white grape Clairette) offers abundant aromas of black raspberries, strawberry jam, black truffle and earthy forest floor. With soft tannins, good freshness, a flowery character and crisp minerality, it reminds me of a Chateauneuf du Pape made within a framework of the great Burgundy grand cru, Musigny. Much of this cuvee comes from vines planted in 1904.
Other Vintages
2012-
Wine
Spectator
The estate was purchased by the du Roy de Blicquy and Wallut families in 1993. Since then they have completely refurbished the estate. A modern winery was built under-ground over three levels to allow all operations to be carried out by gravity feed to eliminate the use of pumps. Ageing of the Grenache takes place in large enamel lined cement tanks and the Syrah and Mouvedre components are aged in large casks.
Using bio-dynamic practices the old vines were nursed back to health and only a small percentage of the vineyard was re-planted , mostly to Syrah and Mourvedre. Yields are kept at a very low 24 to 28 hectoliters per hectare, and the percentage of wine matured in barrels never exceeds 20% of the total. These are stylish wines of intensity, depth and grace that possess natural balance and moderate alcohol levels with no undue heaviness or extract.