Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2007

wa98ws93

BN#270870

The newest baby, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah. All of these wines are from the estate's three major holdings in the northern part of the appellation, on the high plateau of Mont Redon and Cabrieres, and in the northeastern sector, near Beaucastel. The 2007 Vieilles Vignes represents the essence of Chateauneuf du Pape. Inky/purple to the rim, with extraordinary full-bodied aromas of roasted porcini, meat juices, blackberries, cassis, smoke, and grilled herbs, it is intense to the point of almost over-extraction, but it has no rough edges. It possesses great purity, an amazing texture, and a massive, full-bodied finish with noticeable tannin. Because of its high percentage of Mourvedre and Syrah, it requires 6-7 years of bottle age, and should keep for 30-35 years.

Wine Advocate

The newest special cuvee (introduced in 2006) is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah). Made from 50- to 100+-year-old vines and aged 18 months in small oak barrels, it is potentially one of the longest lived wines of the vintage. This exquisite, dense purple-colored effort reveals intense but restrained notes of cassis, kirsch, lavender, licorice, and graphite. A wine of great intensity as well as remarkable finesse and elegance, is a full-bodied Chateauneuf that will require plenty of patience. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 25-30. 98+

Score: 98. —Robert Parker, October 2009.

Wine Spectator

Very ripe and forward, with flashy fig, mocha and licorice notes pushed by sweet toast and spice. Round and juicy through the full-bodied finish, with the fruit hanging on nicely. Drink now through 2020.

Score: 93. —James Molesworth, August 31, 2009.