2003 Clos des Papes. Châteauneuf du Pape AOC, Southern Rhône Valley, France. 15.8% alcohol. $75. 7,500 cases made.
Medium ruby red with thick, essentially clear, and slow moving legs. Gorgeous very strong, complex, and ever changing scents of butterscotch, cherry liqueur, fresh cut red fruits (raspberries, strawberries), spice, crushed oyster shells, anise, clay, minerals, and traces of stone and chalk. Very well balanced despite its brawn with moderate tannin and good length (but frankly I would expect it to last longer than it does). Thick, rich, and glorious in the mouth with tons of plush fruit. 65% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre with the remaining 15% consisting of Syrah, Counoise, and Muscardin. The Avrils’ vines average 40 years in age. Drink now to appreciate its power but it will mature in eight years and last until at least 2020. Extreme bottle variation noted – multiple bottles have been unable to reach much less broach the 90 point level and merely present as a fine Côtes du Rhône. 95+? points.