Visit Avril family owns the prestigious domaine du Rhône, the Clos des Papes. For many tasters, it's one of the most popular best Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine vintage after vintage and the Clos des Papes 2017 lives up to its reputation at a price under €80.
Find out in this article which best vintages of Clos des Papes red and white according to the taster's opinion Robert Parker. You'll find these tasting notes for Clos des Papes reds and whites.
Estate presentation :
The estate comprises 40 hectares divided into 24 very specific parcels. This fragmentation helps to control berry ripeness during the harvest and to bring together several grape varieties. (65% grenache, 20% mourvèdre, 10% syrah, 5% counoise, vaccaresis and muscardin for reds) and several terroirs. They produce a yield of 28 hl per hectare. Severe sorting is carried out to produce the best quality. Wines are aged in oak tuns for 12 to 15 months, depending on the vintage. The wines are fined withegg, but not filtered.
This family has lived in Châteauneuf-du-Pape since the 17th century, and the first vintage was produced in 1896. It was signed by the great-grandfather of the current owner, Paul Avril. The latter contributed to the appellation Châteauneuf-du-PapeIn 1936, his son Régis took over the reins from his father, continuing with the export of Clos des Papes. Régis, his son, took over the reins from his father, continuing with the export of Clos des Papes and taking it to the Elysée Palace, to General de Gaulle, then to Pompidou. Subsequently, his son Paul joined the estate at the age of 26 to continue the legacy and pass it on to his own son Paul-Vincent from 1988 onwards. For more than twenty years, he has continued in the same vein: respecting tradition and producing top-quality wines. He has always remained true to his values, and has never given in to the temptation to produce garage wines. He offers only one quantity, of which 90 % of Clos des Papes production and 10% remain white. Thanks to his judicious choice, each bottle from this estate is unique. It's the result of a fabulous, harmonious blend of grape varieties and complementary terroirs.
Best vintages of Clos des Papes red
Cuvée presentation: The blend is made up of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus Cournoise, Muscardin and Vaccarèse. It was aged for 15 months in tuns, unfiltered and fined with egg whites. Powerful, well-structured and designed for long ageing. Powerful, complex, balanced and elegant. It finishes on a long black fruit and spicy note. It has good concentration, guaranteeing good ageing potential. Enjoy it with red meats or cheeses.
Robert Parker rating: 100/100
One of the best AOC Chateauneuf du Pape wines of the 2007 vintage. Aged in older foudres, this wine is almost perfect! An effort that gives notes of kirsch, incense, dried flowers, spices and pepper. Deep, full-bodied, massively concentrated, unctuous and downright sexy, it will last 30 years or more.
Drink from 2021 to 2037.
Robert Parker rating: 99+/100
"The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is, quite possibly, the greatest wine from this estate. A beautiful inky color, the feel is powerful, notes of cassis, kirsch, roasted spices, licorice, dry aromas and floral flavors. Massively concentrated, thick, rich and textured, perfectly balanced, ultra-pure, precise and long. This is the quintessential Clos des Papes and will last for over 30 years. Note, yields were tiny, 16 hectoliters per hectare, so it's very rare."
Drink from 2020 to 2040.
Robert Parker rating: 97+/100
"The 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape is full-bodied yet balanced, with plenty of richness and concentration but also a certain paradoxical lightness. It offers complex notes of garrigue and anise, a mix of cherry and raspberry fruit, a silky texture and a long finish that shows no sign of the wine's 15.8 % of alcohol. For technocrats, the wine's pH is 3.7, which represents sufficient acidity to maintain a good sense of balance. This pretty wine should keep for at least two decades. Along with the 2015 and 2017, it will form a trio of compelling wines to follow over the years."
Drink from 2020 to 2040.
Robert Parker score: 97/100
Bottled in May, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape is floral, elegant and incredibly complex. Roses and violets, cherries and stone fruits, cinnamon and allspice and more are carried across the full-bodied but almost weightless palate, finishing in a swirl of silky tannins and lingering spice.
Drink now through to 2035.
Robert Parker score: 97/100
A superb vintage for Clos Des Papes. This wine offers flavors of kirsch, Asian spices, ground herbs, blackberries and incense. Full-bodied, textured, Avril commented that it will evolve similarly to the 1989! A success story for AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe.
Drink now through to 2020
Robert Parker rating: 96/100
"It has a fresh, refreshing nose of strawberries, cola and tree bark. Full-bodied and tannic on the palate. Dense and mellow, but with a mouthwatering freshness, it will take a few years for it to relax, but it looks very promising."
Drink from 2022 to 2035
Robert Parker rating: 96/100
Clos Des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape has naturally created a huge alcohol content of 15.7%. Yet it shows not a trace of heat in its magnificent bouquet, with notes of kirsch liqueur, blackberries, Asian spices, charcuterie and garrigue. A thick, concentrated wine, demonstrating the purity of its terroir and the skill displayed during the harvest. Soft tannins and a wonderful finish. Already hard to resist, it will cruise for another 15-20 years.
Drink now, until 2035
Robert Parker rating: 96/100
One of the stars of the 2011 vintage, with low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, this Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a full-bodied wine, with copious notes of kirsch, pepper mill, dried flowers and undergrowth. The tannins are very fine, with great concentration on the mid-palate. Ample length on the finish. It will be accessible at an earlier age than average. Nevertheless, it will have evolved for more than 20 years, which is atypical for this vintage.
Drink it now until 2020
Best vintages of Clos des Papes white
The blend is made from several grape varieties, including Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Picpoul. The wine is aged for 6 months in vats on lees before bottling. It is powerful, rich and fresh. After bottling, it can be enjoyed within two years. It reveals white fruit, floral and citrus flavors. This wine can be kept for 15 years in a good cellar, after which it develops an aromatic palette of dried fruits such as roasted almonds, candied fruits and honey. It goes perfectly with seafood, as well as white meat such as Bresse poultry.
Robert Parker score: 95/100
A vintage that Avril sells mainly to restaurants, sublime. An exceptional white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Superb freshness and minerality. Notes of honey, hazelnut, licorice and stone, with a fruity bouquet. A pure, well-balanced wine, with both freshness and richness, it will continue to evolve well, but there's no need to hold back from drinking it today.
Drink now through to 2025.
- Clos des Papes white 2013
Robert Parker score: 94/100
Less Grenache than normal, the Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2013 is a beauty! Beautiful freshness with gorgeous notes of apple blossom, white flowers, spice and mineral notes emerging from the glass. Medium-bodied and balanced, it can be enjoyed at any time over the next two decades.
Drink now until 2033.
- Clos des Papes white 2012
Robert Parker score: 94/100
A rich white Châteauneuf-du-Pape with great acidity. Notes of ripe fruit, stone fruit, white currants, honeysuckle and licorice make for a full-bodied, rich wine with a powerful profile on the palate. Its freshness is also noteworthy. A magnificent wine that can be enjoyed now, well chilled.
Drink now until 2032.
- Clos des Papes white 2009
Robert Parker score: 94/100
A superb vintage that gives birth to this magnificent Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc. It's full-bodied, textured and voluptuously beautiful, with aromas and flavors of poached pears, honey, white flowers and white peaches. It will age magnificently.
Drink now until 2029
- Clos des Papes white 2015
Robert Parker score: 93/100
A big, rich wine by Paul-Vincent Avril standards, This 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc offers plenty of minerality, salty. Notes of ripe citrus, spicy apples. It shows purity and intensity on the palate, but also shows stature and depth.
Enjoy it now and for the next 2 decades.
Clos des Papes Partner of Comptoir des Millésimes
For the pleasure of wine lovers and connoisseurs alike, we work directly with the estate, enabling us to offer you a superb selection of wines. Clos des Papes. A respected product, preserved quality and premium service for your ultra-fast Clos Des Papes deliveries! Enjoy our superb selection of Clos Des Papes on the site! In the meantime, take a look at our other articles on wine estates.
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