| Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year.
Wine Spectator, Dec. 07
This is really tight now, but it's packed with dark fig, currant, espresso, licorice
and chocolate notes. Superfleshy but seriously structured, there's layer after layer
of sweet spice, fruit and minerality pumping through the finish, with lots of latent
depth and power. Far more backward than the 2003 and 2004 on release, but considering
this typically puts on weight as it ages, it should be a monster--à la the 1990--when
it reaches its peak. 98 points
Stephen Tanzer's International
Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb 07
Avril presented the components,
from foudres, and opined that he now prefers this to showing an approximate blend
because "blending on the spot isn't an assemblage, it's just a melange, and a wine
needs two months after blending to harmonize." Sample #1, 70% grenache and 30% mourvedre:
Blackberry, dark cherry, plum and licorice on the nose. Sweeter on the palate, with
bright raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. This is "about 15.8% alcohol," says
Avril. Sample #2, 70% grenache and 30% syrah: Intensely perfumed nose combines powerful
kirsch, cassis and Asian spices. Silky and sweet, with a deep cherry flavor and
suave tannins. Sample #3, a blend of 80% grenache, 10% mourvedre and 10% syrah:
A strong floral quality lifts the ripe raspberry and licorice aromas. Lush, broad
and silky, with impressive concentration. Sample #4, all grenache: Bright raspberry
and strawberry on the nose. Impressively silky and sweet, with strong minerality,
fine tannins and excellent persistence. The final blend should be a great Clos des
Papes.. 94-97 points
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