TN: 2007 Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf - hummmmmm...

WINE TALK
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This was the basic Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf bottling (well priced £85/6 In Bond) from the fabled 2007 vintage and from a producer whose wines I’ve never drunk before - but certainly a favourite with Parker. My initial views on untried Chateauneuf producers wine is usually based on their lowest rung bottling before buying their normally mega expensive premium wines, Barroche with their ‘Pure’ being the exception.

This bottle was decanted in the morning. First impressions were rather disappointing given that 2007 in the Southern Rhone is supposed to be the next best thing to a good rogering. Certainly a powerful wine, but rather vulgar with its ostentatious flamboyant personality - at the moment. The nose was very concentrated, chock full with over indulgent iodine, liquorice and roasted stuff but still able to show degrees of fruit pureness. The palate was showing some heat, not huge amounts, but certainly noticeable, while the undertones of grilled Portobello mushroom, chocolate (a big no,no in Chateauneuf for me) & ground coffee went unappreciated. There is the structure & tannins to balance the massive amount of fruit. Monolithic now, but one to revisit in 5-10 years me thinks.

I’d love to big up this very modern Chateauneuf but I can’t muster the enthusiasm. It was all a bit too much (or too young) for me at this point in its youth. 14.5% (I don’t think so). Based on this bottle I won’t be rushing out to buy some of their Deus Ex Machina.

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Phil,
Many of the 07’s are going to be similar to your take here. They are very nice. Lots of flamboyant fruit. Flirtatious. Almost harlot-like at this point and monolithic in character.
I am betting they will show more complex character with some cellar time.
FWIW.

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[rofl.gif]

Not a good line to read while drinking my morning coffee. Where do I send the cleaning bill?

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  • 2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (5/15/2010)
    Nose has tart and sour cherries, with blueberry cobbler, creamy vanilla, and lush blackberries. The nose comes across as similar to a Central Coast big boy. An extremely dense and full bodied wine. After initially opening, the wine was very awkward…disjointed and hot. The mouthfeel of the wine is quite nice - quite silky. Hoping that this is just in a dumb phase of sorts, and hoping that in another 3-10 years these bottles will mature into the beauties they’re “supposed” to be. (86 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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I liked this wine. FWIW, I do not like Parker’s take on Bordeaux from 2003 onwards, or for that matter almost anything New World, but I really do not think 2007 CDP is over the top as so many have postulated.