2007 Paul Avril Clos des Papes CdP Rouge
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Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Plenty of oil, medicine and furniture polish on the nose – yet not a hint of faultiness. Instead, the fruit and the complexity blend together, and keep balance with the fiery body too. Spectacular effort! (RH)
Yoghurt and cheese character – dairy, but with yeast. Remarkable freshness on the palate, and ample spice too. Honeyed yet dry, and there’s a touch of saltiness on the finish. I’d be tempted to drink this soon, before the fruit retreats any further. Almond character on the finish. (RH)
One of the great vintages from this estate, surpassing even the 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, and maybe the 2010 (time will tell with this one), the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape from Vincent Avril delivers everything you could want from a wine. Full-bodied, intense and beautifully concentrated, with plenty of muscle and depth, it shows the hallmark elegance and purity of the estate, with sensational notes of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, incense, smoked meats and Asian spices. The blend is the normal 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, brought up all in older foudre, and it's just now entering its prime drink window and has another two decades of longevity.
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.