Tasting Notes
Vinous 97
Glass-staining ruby. Dark berry preserves, cherry cola, Moroccan spices and licorice on the intensely perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Palate-staining, sharply focused black/blue fruit, spicecake and candied violet flavors show superb energy for their depth. Picks up mocha and succulent herb nuances with air. it finishes extremely long and smoky, with resonating floral and spice notes and mounting tannins.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2039
JancisRobinson.com 18
75% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Counoise. The month of January was very cold. In fact, it was the coldest it has ever been in the last five years. There was a sharp rise in temperatures from the beginning of February and towards the end of March. Conditions were much like those in 2014 when the vintage proved to be an early one. A cold spell hit France at the end of April. Temperatures were as low as 3.7 °C on 20 April at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The appellation then went through a vegetative period that was very hot with maximum temperatures exceeding 30 °C by the end of June (37.6 °C was recorded on 23 June and 40.5 °C on 4 August). The 2017 vintage is therefore the second hottest in the last 20 years, not quite as hot as 2003 but more so than 2015 and 2009. Harvest 4 September to 15 October. Dark glowing purplish crimson. Sumptuous, spicy red wine rather than particularly recognisable as Châteauneuf. Really quite structured. Indeed the finish is pretty chewy. But the fruit is certainly intense and bright. Pretty smart winemaking with spice the dominant note.
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2034
Robert Parker 98-100
“The preliminary blend of the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin is about 75% Mourvèdre, which performed exceptionally well in the heat of the vintage, according to Marc Perrin. It’s the second consecutive potentially perfect vintage of this cuvée, which never misses the mark, in any event. Licorice and red berries mark the nose, while the wine is full-bodied and concentrated yet almost weightless, delivering remarkable savory, spicy nuances and a long, long, long finish. Yes, I did indeed write “”long”” three times in my notebook.”
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
