VINTAGES HEADLINES:

*WINE TASTING SAT. OCT. 29, 2-5pm: RHONE VALLEY & 2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape
*WINE DINNER AT OLEANA, Monday, DEC. 5
Featuring artisanal wines of Southern Italy
(est. $125/person inclusive)

*WINE TASTING SAT. OCT. 29, 2-5PM:
RHONE VALLEY & 2003 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE: Where Grenache is King

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in France’s Southern Rhone, is the hot, dry, stony home of Grenache – a place where terroir and grape find a perfect match. The red wines of this region are deeply fruity, aromatic, and very pleasurable. While Grenache may rule, the region’s namesake wine can be a blend of up to thirteen different grape varieties, in any combination.. The dominant grapes of most wines are Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, along with Cinsault and Counoise. Châteauneuf-du-Pape comprises 7,900 acres of vines and is home to about 300 vignerons, half of whom bottle their own wine.

While lacking the cachet of France’s top regions, or the neighboring Northern Rhone, the top wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are definitely world-class. Except for 2002, the region has enjoyed superb vintages every year since 1998, and the wines have gained greater prominence. The heat that scorched France in 2003 certainly affected the Southern Rhône, but in a region that is accustomed to excessive heat and dryness, the effects were less severe than in cooler areas. Overall, 2003 is an exciting vintage with some outstanding wines that are among the best in the recent run of superb vintages. “Different people, different ideas, different grapes, different soils--there are so many different things here," says Daniel Brunier of Vieux Télégraphe. "The general idea is the same, but the daily things are different. And when you understand that, you understand Châteauneuf."

VINTAGES’ Eric Broege visited Chateauneuf this past June, and tasted at several estates, including CLOS DU MONT OLIVET. In addition to their outstanding CdP, The Clos du Mont Olivet’s Chateauneuf “Blanc” and Cotes-du-Rhone were fascinating discoveries and we are excited to offer them as VINTAGES Exclusives. Join us in tasting these wines, and those from other estates made with artisanal care and attention to the traditions that have created such distinctive, enjoyable wines.

White
2004 CLOS DU MONT OLIVET CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC $35 (VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE) We visited this winery and tasted this delicious, rare white made in miniscule quantities. Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc has a reputation as a heavy, even plodding white; yet aided by the excellent 2004 vintage and skill in the cellar, Clos du Mont Olivet has transformed this blend of Rousanne, Marsanne, Viognier and Clairett into something quite magnificent. Dense, rich, velvety texture. Pure peach and nectarine flavors, but not “fruity;” displays a more serious character, chewy and luscious. Aged 10% in oak. A world-class white and a tremendous value at $35. Extremely limited quantities.

Red
2004 CLOS DU MONT OLIVET COTES-DU-RHONE “Serre de Catin” $19.99 (VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE) The estate’s top Cotes-du-Rhone, a very select, single-vineyard bottling. Miniscule production. Very much like a mini-CdP, it highlights the characteristics of Grenache: intoxicating aromas, crushed berries with complex, spicy overtones in the mouth.  Asian five-spice flavors and aromas. Pure and voluptuous fruit. Outstanding! A real find. Only 300 cases produced.

2003 DOM. VIEUX TELEGRAPHE CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE  “La Crau” $45 Great vintage, great Rhone Valley estate imported by Kermit Lynch. "Vieux Telegraphe, one of the Rhone's greatest estates, is brilliantly run by Frederic and Daniel Brunier. The Vieux Telegraphe estate comprises 70 hectares entirely sited on the hot and stony plateau of La Crau, to the east of the appellation. Led by Grenache, the Chateauneuf-du-Pape offers a lighter color, but powerful scents (roasted meat, herb, sweet plums) and generous, yet softly tannic depths beneath the roar of spicy flavor." -- from Andrew Jeffords’ THE NEW FRANCE.  "Tight at first, but quickly picks up steam in the glass, with dark cherry, plum, tobacco, pepper, mineral and hot stone notes pumping through the long, fruit-and terroir-filled finish. Really fleshes out nicely. Drink now thru 2020." -Wine Spectator

2003 DOM. MONPERTUIS CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE “Cuvee Tradition” $68

Paul Jeune is now the proprietor of 10 acres of vines that are scattered amongst 32 separate parcels throughout Chateauneuf du Pape. The "Cuvee Tradition," produced solely from old vines of minimum age of 60 years, (many are 120 years old) contains at least 85% Grenache. The "Cuvee Tradition" is subjected to a long fermentation of between 20 and 40 days. Aged in a mixture of small and large oak barrels, this cuvee is bottled, without filtration, two years after harvest. “Cuvee Tradition" is only produced in outstanding vintages. Captivating aromas, extremeley long, structured wine with terrific grip, and palate staining-perisistence. Typically one of the more long-lived examples of Chateauneuf.

2003 CLOS DU MONT OLIVET CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE  “La Cuvee du Papet” $60 Eric Broege tasted at this domaine while visiting Chateauneuf-du-Pape; unfortunately, the harvest was extremely small, and there's not much of the luscious stuff to go around. We got as much as we could. “La Cuvee du Papet” is a special cuvee made only in the best vintages. 70%  Grenache from 100-year-old vines, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah. “A tremendous wine with elevated density and richness. Sweet, silky and fine.” –EB 

“The luxury offering, the sensational 2003 Cuvee du Papet, appears to be the finest example of this wine since the glorious 1998… Powerful aromas of kirsch liqueur soar from the glass of this deep ruby/plum-colored effort. Full-bodied, with abundant fruit as well as a broad, expansive attack and mid-section, and a succulent, sumptuous finish … some serious tannin lurking underneath all the glycerin, fruit, and alcohol, so give it 2-4 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 15 years+.” – R. Parker

2003 CLOS DES PAPES CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE  $75
“The final blend for the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape is 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Muscardin. Its dense ruby/purple color is matched by an extraordinary perfume of black raspberries, kirsch, blackberries, licorice, incense, and Chinese black tea. There is tremendous intensity on the attack, full body, loads of glycerin, and abundant but sweet tannin. With magnificent purity, richness, and generosity, yet fine delineation, this brilliant effort will be ready to drink in 3-4 years, and should last for two decades. Kudos to Vincent Avril for the finest wine he has made in his young, but promising career.” – R. Parker

*WINE DINNER at OLEANA, Monday, Dec. 5, 7pm
"Some like it hot! Sicily & Southern Italy"
Estimated price $125 per person, inclusive. More details to come... Call or email to reserve. 978-369-2545

At this dinner we'll be heating it up with a taste of exceptional food and wine from Italy’s more southern climes. After her culinary tour of Sicily, chef Ana Sortun will design a menu inspired by the aromas and flavors unique to this island's culture. Featured wines will include some of the most exciting and distinctive artisanal wines from Sicily, Campania, Lazio, and Puglia, drawing on the area’s ancient wine history and distinctive grape varieties.

cheers!

Eric & Carolyn
VINTAGES-Adventures in Wine
53 Commonwealth Ave. West Concord, MA
978-369-2545
open Mon-Fri 10-8; Sat 10-7
info@vintagesonline.com
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