2010 | Paul Avril Clos des Papes | Chateauneuf du Pape

Inky ruby. Potent, intensely perfumed aromas on raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola, anise and smoky garrigue. Spicy and incisive, offering palate-staining red and dark berry flavors that become richer with air. Shows a superb balance of richness and vivacity, with dusty tannins giving grip to a long, spice- and floral-dominated finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Unprompted, Paul-Vincent Avril pulled a 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape from the admirable library stock he maintains at Clos des Papes. Who was I to say no? A stupendous effort that seamlessly marries full-bodied richness with a sense of lightness and ease, it's really just now maturing, although it has been drinkable for some time. Leather accents raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose, while the long, silky-textured finish adds delicate notes of star anise, peppery spice and black olive. This complex, elegant masterpiece should continue to drink well for another decade and then some.

• James Suckling: Lots of cocoa powder and coffee frame a massive block of dark plum, black currant and fig fruit, while massively endowed tannins stride from start to finish. Cassis, anise and Lapsang souchong tea notes hang in the background for now, but should emerge more with extended cellaring. The very dark, almost brooding finish is dominated by charcoal-coated grip, but the purity still wins out in the end. A very, very large wine. *#4 on the Top 100 Wines of 2012

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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