Châteauneuf du Pape, Clos des Papes, 2020
Floral fine aromas of dark cherries. Suave but with crunch and freshness to the palate. Lovely morello and red cherry notes infused with gentle peppery spices. Very fine, pure and precise. Gentle and charming, but not lacking for substance. The intricate flavours float across the palate, guided by a fine seam of freshness, and culminate in a long, persistent but effortless finish. Spellbinding. A blend of approximately 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, no more than 10% Syrah and 10% of the other permitted varieties. A blend of 14 organically-farmed parcels from across the commune, de-stalked, fermented in tank and then aged in large wooden vat for 12 months
critic reviews
Tasted recently and as remarkable as ever, the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos des Papes, derived from a Mediterranean summer without excess or hydric stress, wafts from the glass with superb aromas of dark berries, violet, lilac, dark cherries and crushed flowers. Full-bodied, seamless and layered, it has a fleshy, enveloping core of fruit framed by velvety, filigreed tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal finish. A deeply identity-driven Clos des Papes of remarkable overall precision, it stands as one of the summits of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in this vintage.
Made with the usual blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, Cinsaut and other permitted varieties, the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape checks in at 15.5% alcohol. It bursts with pungent aromas of red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, black plum, thyme, black pepper and is distinctively spicy. Full-bodied and expressive, wrapped in an intricate web of velvety tannins and balanced by lively acids, it is a majestic Clos des Papes.