Winemaker Notes
-International Wine Cellar 92-95
"As for their top cuvee, the 2005 Cuvee du Quet (in this vintage 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvedre, much like previous years) exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, superb purity and intensity, with a full-bodied palate, loads of black fruits intermixed with crushed rocks, flowers, and a bit of licorice and incense. It is a powerful, layered wine of beautiful purity and balance. It will need 2-4 years of bottle age given the tannin profile and fresh acidity; however, the wine should keep for 15 or more years. In the northernmost sector of Chateauneuf, the Chaussy family run this fine estate that has been making brilliant Chateauneuf du Pape for over a decade."
-Wine Advocate 91-93
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A dark, chewy style, with serious layers of fig, briar, espresso and loam. But this isn't top-heavy, with a beam of blackberry fruit running through the finish and enough well-embedded acidity for length and balance. Impressive. Best from 2008 through 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Quet exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim and broad, impressive aromatics of spring flowers, melted licorice, camphor, and blue and black fruits. In the mouth it is layered, powerful, full-bodied, with high tannin, beautiful purity, and a finish that exceeds 45 seconds. This is a knock-out wine. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.
92+ Points -
Vinous
The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Quet opens with a beguiling minty streak accompanied by dried red fruits, subtle tobacco and a flicker of dried olive. Crushed rocks add another layer. Full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, the 2005 is wrapped around firm tannins that provide solid overall structure, but take away some of its elegance. This is a hedonistic treat made in a blockbuster style, but shows tidy overall balance.
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.