TN: 1972 Xavier Vins: Chateauneuf du Pape (S.Rhone, France).

1972 Xavier Vins: Chateauneuf du Pape (S.Rhone, France).

To celebrate New Year’s Day 2022, I opened this 50 year old wine. Xavier Vins is a négociant business (established in 2002) run by enologist Xavier Vignon, who also works as a consultant with Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rhône estates such as Le Nerthe and Marcoux.

The new cork has 1972 embossed on it. Dark strawberry red with a pink rim, 14% alcohol. The nose unfurls its charms, with sous bois and dry red fruits. With air, fresh red cherries and unlit Cuban cigar aromas. The velvet mouthfeel is full bodied and fresh, the crunchy red fruits carrying their full-bodied power across my tongue. A long medium length with no dry tannins, this is drinking g deliciously well now. Served blind, I would have guessed no older than 1985. Drinking well now, this late-release from the legendary 1972 vintage should keep well for the next 3-5+ years.

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