2012 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz*
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Tasting notes
I’ve always loved the 2012 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz. This sexy, upfront, exuberant effort has classic notes of kirsch and dark fruits, peppery herbs, and flowers. Ripe, full-bodied, expansive, and just a terrific drink, enjoy bottles any time over the coming decade as well.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
Vivid purple. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit scents are complicated by notes of licorice and cola. In quite a different style than the Safres, offering sweet boysenberry and black raspberry flavors and a touch of white pepper. Tighten up on the finish, which clings with resonating spiciness. (JR)
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape les Quartz is one of the more powerful, structured 2012s and exhibits wonderful black raspberry, creamy licorice, smoked earth and crushed rock/liquid minerality. Medium to full-bodied and classically styled on the palate, with a broad, expansive feel, it has sweet fruit, plenty of tannin and beautiful length. Give it another year or two and drink bottles through 2027.