2005 | Paul Avril Clos des Papes | Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Deep red. Explosively perfumed nose offers a profound bouquet of red and dark berries, licorice, incense and musky underbrush. Broad, palate-staining raspberry and blackcurrant flavors are enveloped in velvety tannins, with suave anise and Asian spices adding complexity. A huge but balanced-even graceful-wine, with a finish that refuses to let go of the palate.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape has a deep ruby/purple color, identical alcohol to the 2006, and the same pH, but it is a much more tannic wine and the acids seem slightly more elevated, even though the analysis says they are not. A complex nose of resiny pine forest notes intermixed with black raspberry, sweet kirsch, licorice and lavender jumps from the glass of this deep ruby/purple-colored wine. Full-bodied, powerful, rich, and tannic, this wine begs for 4-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 25+ years.

• Wine Spectator: Really tight now, but 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.

Producer Information

Paul Avril Clos des Papes is a highly regarded wine producer in the southern Rhône appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Established by Paul Avril in the early 20th Century, the estate makes one of the most sought-after wines in the region: Clos des Papes. The estate is made up of 24 small plots throughout the appellation totalling 32 hectares (79 acres). All of the 13 permitted grape varieties in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation are grown in these vineyards, although Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah are the most important in terms of production. Picking is spread out to ensure maximum quality, and green harvests and strict berry selection ensure a low yield. Clos des Papes takes its name from one of its plots: a walled vineyard located near the ruins of the 14th Century Papal castle. There are two main wines associated with Clos des Papes: a red and a white wine. The red accounts for 90 percent of production and typically contains 65 percent Grenache, 20 percent Mourvèdre and 10 percent Syrah, with the remainder made up of the other permitted Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties. The wine is known for its finesse and elegance, and is one of the most important wines in the AOC. The Clos des Papes blanc is made up of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Picpoul, and is aged in stainless steel. The estate, now run by Paul-Vincent Avril, also produces a Côtes du Rhône Villages Massif d'Uchaux as well as Le Petit Vin d'Avril red and white Vin de Table wines from declassified Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Clos des Papes makes around 100,000 bottles a year, most of which is exported.

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