Aged Chateauneuf-du-Pape

WINE TALK
1

Always hear people suggest Chateauneuf-du-Pape to pair with Lamb chops and since that dish is fairly common in my house … I really want to try this. The only problem is … the only bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape I have is this one

2010 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape

I would have opened it already but that bottle is too young and needs time … like a lot of time (not even sure if I’ll be able to age it properly).

So while that bottle is on hold, I want to see what I am actually holding and how it will taste when it’s fully aged, or close to it.

I’ve found a few bottles, all under $45 that I can easily get today.

E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2006 ($45)
Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2005 ($40)
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2008 ($40)
Andre Brunel Chateaunuef-Du-Pape Les Cailloux-2006 ($54 with shipping)
2009 Domaine Giraud Tradition, Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($40)
2007 Eddie Feraud, Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($40)

thank you.

2

Dave,

I’m sorry to say but none of those options are going to qualify in as aged CdP. That being said, if those are your only options, I would recommend going with either of the '06 vintage wines. Those have a better chance of being more evolved than the other wines on your list.

Enjoy!

3

Sorry,
but there is not one single “aged” Chateaunuef-Du-Pape included in your list.
What I would call really mature is (e.g.)
Barbe Rac 1998/Chapoutier
1990 Les Cailloux 1990/95
Charvin 1998
Beaucastel 1992
Bonneau 1991 Marie Beurrier

… and many more …
(I had these five recently, all fine, all great bottles …especially Bonneau and Les cailloux 90 )

… or maybe Pegau 1999 …

From your list I would choose Cailloux 2006, but it´s still kind of youthful …

4

Why not look for aged CdR’s too? you might find an older S Rhone that is good quality, but showing some more maturity, and get you closer to the point of your experiment.

5

Ditto everybody’s saying none of these are aged. Based on producer, I’d go with Eddie Feraud. I’d also probably give it a good airing.

6

Agree with previous posters, those are not aged CdP and will not offer what you are expecting as aged CdP.
Slightly off vintages like 2004 and 2001 vintages are another good bet.
If you get a good bottle of the Pegau 2008, it was for me a glimpse of what some of aged CdP could provide and would fit your price criteria.

7

Gerhard,

You consider 98 Charvin aged? Should I be drinking my stash? Haven’t checked in on this wine in a long time.

Mike

8

Last time I checked, Charvin 98 was drinking beautifully. It was almost a year ago.
It is still has plenty of material - as a lot of 1998 are - but if you have many, I would open one to check on them.

9

Boo! Hiss! Of course 9-10 year old Chateauneuf-du-Pape is aged. Typically the tannins start to smooth out and are losing their furryness, if they exhibited that in the first place. Lots of people like CdP at the 8-15 year stage. It’s their early maturity phase. You should enjoy the pairing with chops.

10

Pauillac with lamb. Skip the Chateauneuf.

11

Sounds delicious but what prompted my last post was memories of an 8 year old Domaine Milliere with lamb chops.

12

I’d be interested to hear what makes 2001 a slight off vintage. I thought it to be excellent based on many bottles, though not in the last year.

Then again, I also like 2004 more than most vintages in the decade.

Thanks!
Adam

13

Pierre-Yves,

I’ve never considered '01 an off vintage. '04, while maligned by the press, produced some very nice wines that have never shut down (probably not meant for making old bones though). I personally felt '03 was an off (stewed) vintage, and have found very few of those enjoyable. Many on the board love the '03 Pegau; I sold all of mine to others that like them.

Sorry for the thread drift, and Cheers,
Warren

14

2001…slightly off?

15

Is 01’ considered an off vintage? Out of 98’,99’,00’,01’ the 01’ vintage is only a hair behind 98’, while not as lush the 01’ had bones to age. I would actually consider 01’ the best vintage of cnp of the 00’s…

16

I need to pop a couple of 2005s to see where they are going. High hopes

17

I guess I missed the overall appreciation of 01 CdP.
2001 is a very balanced vintage with enough material and acidity for aging while giving immediate pleasure right now.
The 01 vintage along the 04 and 06 give more pleasure than the more praised 03 or 07 vintages of CdP.

18

I stopped buying a lot of CdP after the 01 vintage, but I thought that most people found the 03 vintage to be highly variable at best.

19

The 98 Charvin has been drinking beautifully for a few years now. So is just about every vintage through 06. The 08 has finally opened for business. But if the desire is for aged CdP, I’d say 98 and 99 are your best bets. On the other hand, I had the chance to taste a Charvin 02 (!) about a year ago and to my astonishment, it was drinking very well. Certainly very advanced for its age, and still the weakest of his wines, probably. But its advancement gives a real indication of what CdP from a better vintage might be like after 20 or more years. This is not the first old Charvin from a weak vintage I have tasted. They make me wonder how long the ones from strong vintages will persist.

20

The '03 and '07 CNdP vintages were highly praised by one guy. Many more people have panned those vintages. '01 and '98 are the best of the last 15-20 years IMO.