Wine Label:
 |
Winemaker's Notes:
First produced in 1989. The Flagship (jewel) of the estate and made only in exceptional vintages from our oldest vines of Grenache (the oldest were planted in 1901) with a complement of Mourvedre and/or Syrah in varying proportions according to the vintage. All the varietals are fermented together and give rise to a wine both concentrated and elegant and with a great finish. Reviews Robert Parker 92-94 Points
The brilliant 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Cuvee du Papet (a 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah blend aged in foudre) comes from two of the estate’s old-vine sites on Mont Olivet and Bois Dauphin. There are about 12,000 bottles of this wine, which I don’t believe will be confused with their prodigious 2007 or 1990, but it is top-flight nevertheless. Dark ruby/plum-colored, with an intriguing nose of smoked herbs and jus de viande interwoven with licorice, pepper, black currants, raspberry and kirsch, this wine is full-bodied yet fresh, with an underlying minerality and lots of plumpness/corpulence. This rich, concentrated wine should age nicely for 10-15 years.
Clos du Mont Olivet is one of the great estates of Chateauneuf du Pape. They have been estate bottling for over 80 years, and readers looking for classic, old-style, traditional as well as long-lived Chateauneuf du Papes have a beacon of reassurance with the Sabon family, who have run this large domaine so impeccably well.
International Wine Cellar 93-95 Points
Glass-staining ruby. A highly perfumed, exotic bouquet displays red and dark berry preserves, licorice, cracked pepper and smoky Indian spices; quite dense and masculine for this normally graceful cuvee Then dense, sappy and pure in the mouth, with impressive lift to its black raspberry, floral and mineral flavors. Expands on the back half and stains the palate with floral and candied berry qualities. The tannins are fine-grained and buried by the wine's sweet fruit. |
