1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Clos des Papes
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Tasting notes
Chocolate, hay, coffee, cooked red fruit, wonderfully nuanced and perfumed with great persistence. The tannin is just right – firm and supportive, but not too grainy. Plenty of alcohol on the finish, but it stays in harmony. Masterful. (RH)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
From a vintage called a "Grenache year" by Paul-Vincent, the 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape is atypically medium-bodied and supple, with an endearing, drink-me-now feel in its sweet fruits, cedar, spice, mint and charcuterie-laced aromas and flavors. Pretty, classy and balanced, it's another wine I'd lean toward drinking soon rather than later.
Very rich, spicy and luscious with excellent structure. When it was opened several hours before drinking, it was suspected of displaying a bit of brett but by the time it was served with lunch it was pretty gorgeous and satisfying. Just what you want from a mature Châteauneuf. (JR)
About the producer
Few estates have shaped the identity of Châteauneuf-du-Pape quite like Clos des Papes. For generations, the Avril family has remained devoted to a single benchmark cuvée, crafted from more than twenty vineyard parcels to express the appellation at its finest.
Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro
Red
Dry