2009 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Châteauneuf Du Pape is showing beautifully, with an incredibly expressive, complex, and nuanced perfume of sweet red and black fruits, ground pepper, sappy garrigue, licorice, and leather. While this was a monster on release, it's nothing but elegance and finesse today, with a seamless mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and a great finish. I love it today, yet it has another decade or more of prime drinking with, I suspect, a gradual decline thereafter. As I’ve often written, it’s almost impossible to have too much Clos des Papes in the cellar! Drink: 2025-2039.
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Crystallised ginger, saffron, white peach, slight musky grape character. Definitely a touch of oxidation on the palate, giving a hint of orange peel. Loads of complexity on the finish – fennel, crème fraiche, almond. I would drink this now, but it is still going strong. (RH)
Much paler than the Beaucastel. Mid straw. Grass and herbs on the nose. Honeysuckle. Good acidity. Rich and lively. Great freshness entering its second phase of evolution. No heaviness. A hint of coconut. So fresh! Nervy. (JR)
Still relatively young tasting, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape accents lush red fruit with hints of leather and Asian five spice powder. It's full-bodied and velvety, ripe, plush and long, a completely delicious taste experience that culminates in a lick of salted licorice. Owners should count themselves lucky to have purchased some, as this still has a decade or more of life ahead of it. As Paul-Vincent Avril said, "2009 is still a baby—decant it if you can."
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.