This was a good opportunity to sample several more of the highly touted '07 Chateauneuf du Papes. I was very impressed by both of the Bosquet des Papes at this tasting, and the Bosquet regular bottling seems like a comparative value for the vintage–I see some retailers have it at about $40. The Mas de Boislauzon bottlings were also strong, although the special cuvees both will require years of cellaring before they’re ready to drink, especially the extremely tight 100% Mourvedre “Le Tintot.” The two Cuvee du Vatican bottlings were consistent with when I’ve tried them at previous tastings, and a little more ripe and modern in style than I prefer. starter wines
2008 Philippe Faury St. Joseph Blanc- France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Light yellow color; white flower, pineapple, ripe lemon nose; lemon, cream, white flower palate; medium finish 91+ pts. (91 pts.)
2007 Domaine de Montille Bourgogne- France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Light cherry red color with clear meniscus; pretty strawberry, ripe cherry, sous bois, herbal nose; light bodied, tart cherry, strawberry, tangerine, mineral, herbal palate; medium finish 91+ pts. (91 pts.)
2007 Flight
2007 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Dark red violet color; lovely pepper, smoke, roasted meat nose; tight, concentrated, smoke, pepper, garrigue, black fruit palate; medium-plus finish (needs 3 to 5 years) (95 pts.)
2007 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Dark garnet red color; lovely pepper, white pepper, anise, garrigue nose; tight, tasty, tart black fruit, pepper, white pepper, garrigue, anise palate; medium-plus finish (95 pts.)
2007 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Dark garnet red color; refined black fruit, berry, anise, tar nose; tasty, silky textured, garrigue, anise, black fruit, tart berry, dried berry palate; medium finish (93 pts.)
2007 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Nearly opaque very dark red violet color; chocolate, blackberry, berry nose; solid berry, blackberry, chocolate, tart black fruit palate; medium-plus finish (92 pts.)
2007 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Very dark red violet color; complex, pepper, garrigue, anise, dried berry nose; focused, pepper, anise, tar, tart black fruit palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish (94 pts.)
2007 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Tintot- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Very dark red violet color; stinky, reduction nose; very tight, reduction, tart black fruit, graphite, herbal palate with good acidity; long finish 92+ pts. (100% Mourvedre; needs 8 to 10 years) (92 pts.)
2007 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Opaque, very dark red violet color; lovely, berry, blackberry, herbal, anise nose; tight, tasty, black fruit, graphite, anise, tar palate; long finish (80% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre; needs 5 to 7 years) (94 pts.)
I’ve written this a few times: the 2007 Mas de Boislauzon, which I like overall, practically seared the lips off my face. By far and away the most tannic, acidic CDP I’ve ever had. It seems no one else is getting that.
Whole bottle tasted over three days. It was brutal from beginning to end. I really like tannic wines so this doesn’t freak me out. However I do find it atypical for not only the vintage but as I said for CDP in general. I’m surprised given the number of notes I’ve read, all very positive, that no one has mentioned its tannic wallop.
I won’t list the other 07 CDPs I’ve had here. There have been quite a few but none of the super cuvees. I guess my favorites so far, and they are quite different, have been the regular Janasse and the Vieux Telegraphe.
I tried it last weekend (I was standing next to Richard at the tasting bar, but only tried two of the CdP’s myself). It didn’t strike me as exceptionally tannic or acidic, although the tannins may well be hiding beneath the abundant fruit. I recall the 2005s as being more tannic.
Drank my second bottle of the Boislauzon a few days ago. Not nearly as tannic or acidic as the first one. Possibly bottle variation? Probably its my erratic palate.
J. Hannah brought an '07 Boislauzon to Yoni’s party on Saturday. I thought it was good … very good, actually. It didn’t come across as alcoholic or tannic to me, but rather surprisingly smooth for its tender age. It definitely struck me as being a huge wine packed with complexity, but with that complexity being absolutely bowled-over by up-front ripe red fruits (the red fruits also surprised me, as Boislauzon usually has a darker taste profile). Anyways, I’m happy to have a few of these in my cellar: I will try not opening any ‘till 5 years pass … we’ll see how I do with that.
And just as a point of reference this wine was decanted for a little over an hour, doubled back into the bottle where it sat until it was killed at the party. All in all it probably saw a good 6-7 hours of air.
The couple of Boislauzon’s I have had have all shown more lighter red fruits, much like this one. What struck me the most was the pepper, tar, and garrigue characteristics that came through on the finish. If those flavors can push their way through the ripe red fruits as it softens with age, this will be pretty nuts good wine.
Does anyone know the blend on this? It seemed like a ton of Grenache to me, but I could be wrong.
I found this page which says 80% Grenache, but doesn’t say if this is what specifically is in the 2007 vintage.
