Type |
Region |
Vintage |
Name |
Price |
Stock |
Livingstone Score |
Parker Score |
|
Châteauneuf du Pape |
2004 |
Clos des Papes |
£240.00
|
4 |
**** |
95 |
Each case contains 6 bottles.
John Livingstone-Learmouth
bit less dark than the 2005, has a pretty full robe, with a decent red core. The nose is rather gourmand, with soaked black berries and prune aromas: has plenty of sweet, violet appeal, and is trimmed by some black tea and smoke as well. The palate moves with restraint, has a peppery theme after a split second of live attack. There is sinew in this, it is closing down now. The tannins are prominent late on. Not at its best to appreciate now. Drink from mid-2010/2011 for more roundness. The bouquet is more offering than the palate now. Ends with richness, but is less flamboyant than the 2005 and 2006. 2024-27 Nov 2007 Previously Dec 2006 **** quite a dark red robe; full, cherry, floral aroma that floats nicely. The wine comes in an upright shape, has good grip, and licorice which the French call Zan, continues well along the palate. Starting to be difficult to taste- I think this will close up soon. Has a mineral, plum sensation, and is wiry now, but the length is good. 15.2°. From 2010-11. 2025-28 Dec 2006"It reminds me of the 1995- it shouldn`t be touched for 8 to 10 years," Vincent Avril."I find cherry, kirsch on the nose", V.Avril
Robert Parker
The 2004 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be one of the finest wines of the vintage, tipping the scales at just over 15% alcohol and actually coming a few tenths of a degree within the 2003 and 2005 in terms of power and alcoholic degrees. The wine displays gorgeously sweet black raspberries, kirsch liqueur, and resiny, loamy soil notes. Medium to full-bodied, this blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and the rest some of the other red varietals that are permitted, is performing beautifully and is certainly one of the vintage's superstars. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, rich, and as accessible as the 2003, but slightly fresher and not as muscular and thick. Nevertheless, this is a top effort from the father and son team of Paul and Vincent Avril. This wine can be drunk now but can be cellared for 15-20 years. This exquisitely run estate continues to turn out wines of great fragrance, richness as well as flavor authority and integrity. The yields are always among the lowest in the appellation. While they have 87 acres and can produce as much as 8,000 cases of Chateauneuf du Pape, the yields in 2003 were 23 hectoliters per hectare, in 2004, 22 hectoliters per hectare, and in 2005, 21 hectoliters per hectare. Their best value, and it's one heck of a bistro wine, is the non-vintage concoction of Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, and Carignan actually cropped at an amazingly low 32 hectoliters per hectare.
