I had heard so many great things.
This is my tasting note.
2007 Clos des Papes CNP
The nose is strange at first. Almost like dark cotton candy. I figure it is closed down. The palate is a huge fruit bomb. It is not tiring. There is good length and a nice fresh finish. Some herbs with time on the finish.
I am sure this will be rocking great in the future.
it is but a shadow right now of the 2007 Janasse VV or the 2007 Bosquet des Papes Gloire de Mon Grand Pere. I am sure it will be great but I think there are many others including some 2006’s that are much better wines.
Just for the sake of discussion why do you think it will be a great wine. Cotton candy? Not nearly as good as others? I mean why not just say this wine should improve but will never be a great wine to my taste? Who cares if someone else gave it 101+ points
Just based on history for these wines.
There is plenty of material.
I don’t know how people can make absolute determinations with this kind of showing but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt.
Thanks for the note. Can you elaborate on the '06s you prefer?
I realize these are early days but I am happy to hear that you think it will be “rocking great” in future. And extremely happy to hear your praise of the Janasse.
Note to Greg…who cares if someone else gave it 101 points? Because if that someone is RMP and you think the wine is shite, you can probably still get rid of it at a profit and buy a bunch of Charvin.
I think the 06 Clos des Papes will be very close to this wine in quality. Maybe better.
I think the 06 St Jean higher end wines will surpass it most likely.
For drinking now, the St Jean 06 wines are such a pleasure. Some of that may be the fact the concentration is lower.
My take on 2007 CdPs is that there are many great wines out there but there are also wines that push the envelope on ripeness and alcohol. Lots of candied fruit up front and slightly hollow in the middle. This is a generalization. I have not had the 07 Clos des Papes so I am not saying it fits this category.
I think along similar lines Paul…I find one of the things I value is complexity, balance and length in wine. I wonder about some of the 07 CDPs in terms of their balance, sugar levels and how their tannins will develop. I’m looking for CDPs with a fresher, more acidic and elegant profile rather than the full blown jam pot styles that may ultimately prove to have been over extracted and not provide enjoyment over the long haul.
Wines I am buying now are Janasse Chaupin, Mordoree Reine des Bois, Barroche Pure, and Charvin. Moving somewhat towards the more intensively extracted end of the spectrum but still with good reported freshness and acidic lift I am also considering Mon Aieul.
Just because I love them and they are such good value I am also planning on picking up several cases of Coudoulet and Janasse Les Garrigues CDR.
I don’t recall the '05s tasting this way when they were this young, which concerns me a little. And '05 seems to be what a lot of people are using as a comp. I haven’t found too much pleasure yet in '07 CDPs young, although, like Don, I agree that there are definitely raw materials there for great wines.
FWIW, I found both 06 and 07 Clos des Papes over the top, particularly the 07. I am not a huge Clos des Papes fan, but I do think the 01, 04 and 05 are better wines than the 06/07. But then I think that for nearly every CdP. I think 06 and 07 are just too ripe. Both were fruit bombs with bitter finishes and scorching heat.
I am not as CdP versed as many of you, but taking off my CdP hat and putting on my dry red wine hat, I wouldn’t cellar these wines with hopes of glory down the road.
When I started buying Clos des Papes it was well under $20. My '89s and '90s (sadly all gone) were still in the $20-$25 range depending on when I bought them. I’ve had the chance to try some of the recent vintages, including 2003-2005, and I don’t see that these new vintages are better wines. Unless someone opens a 2007 for me (unlikely) I will never try it.
I have not been too fond of the 03, 05 I have had…Usually too big, pruney for me. I have had much better luck with the 04s. The NYT did a thing on 04 CdP a few years ago. I cannot remember the wine that took top honors but I bought a few at $40 each and loved them.