The Toronto Vintners Club

2000 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE - SOLD OUT!

Guest Speaker: Jacques Marie, wine expert, instructor, retired professor and author of The Wine Manual

Notes on the Wines

How The Wines Scored

Côtes du Rhône is probably the most diverse wine region in France, with the Châteauneuf du Pape laying claim as the most famous Côte du Rhône wine. The "Coteaux" (slope) of Châteauneuf du Pape lies between the cities of Orange and Avignon, in one of the most beautiful landscapes of Provence. The Popes used to have their summer residence in Châteauneuf du Pape. Châteauneuf-du-Pape translates as "New Castle of the Pope," and indeed, the history of this commune and its wine are firmly entwined with papal history. This area is also famous for the large stones “galets” at the base of the vines. These reflect the afternoon sun and thus ripen the grapes more fully. Galets can also serve as a protective layer to help retain moisture in the soil during the dry summer months when it can reach 40 deg. C or higher.

There are 13 grapes authorized for use in this region, which had the most stringent wine controls in the world until their controls were adopted in the rest of France, in about 1936. Different grapes are used to make the wine more or less spicy, more or less tannic or smooth, early or later maturing. Alex Lichine’s Encyclopedia of Wines gives some hint of the uses. Grenache for mellowness and alcohol; Mourvedre, Syrah, Muscadine and Vaccarese add body, colour and firmness; Counoise, Picpoule and Cinsault give vinosity, bouquet and freshness; Clairette and Bourboulene, finesse and warmth. Three others are allowed, but Hugh Johnson’s World Atlas of Wine states that only Chateau de Beaucastel persists with all of these. The Grenache has many uses as a blending grape in France. It has become the second most widely planted dark grape, after Carignan. Thus each grape has its place in the blend. 

Back in 2004, TVC tasted wines from the 1998 vintage. This month, we will sample the 2000 vintage which has been cellared for longer and should be drinking well now. In 2003, Robert Parker said this about the 2000 vintage, " A generous harvest (although less so than in many other appellations of France) provided ideal ripeness, uniformity among all varietals (particularly Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault), and deep, richly fruity wines with low acidity, ripe tannin, and splendidly accessible, lush personalities. Overall, the 2000s . . . possess excellent depth, richness, and intensity. They are by no means wimpish wines. Their accessibility gives them immediate appeal, yet the finest will age for 15+ years.”

We have limited quantity of these wines so only 72 tickets are available. 

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The Wines

2000 Roger Perrin $33
The big, dense, fruity, dark ruby/purple-colored 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape offers copious quantities of black cherry liqueur notes presented in a seductive, full-bodied, fleshy style. This consumer-friendly, powerful, concentrated, jammy effort will become more delineated, and drink well for 10-15 years. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. This is an estate clearly on the rise! Wine Advocate # 138 Dec 2001. Robert Parker [RP] 88-90. Drink: 2001 – 2016. 

2000 Domaine du Grand Tinel $34
A sensual, seductive effort with a medium dark ruby/garnet color, and a huge, peppery, resiny nose with black cherry liqueur and currants galore. Lush, expansive, and hedonistic, its low acidity and plump, flashy character should provide undeniably sumptuous drinking for another 10 years. Wine Advocate # 145 Feb 2003 . RP 89. Drink: 2003 - 2013 

2000 Domaine des Relagnes $44 
The exceptional deep ruby/purple- Cuvee Vigneronne possesses abundant quantities of black cherries, currants, spice box, and pepper characteristics. Sweet, ripe, full-bodied, & generous with moderate tannin in the finish, this impressive, well-built, consumer friendly Chateauneuf is a classic offering. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. Wine Advocate #145 Feb ‘03. RP 90. Drink: ‘04 –‘16 

2000 Font de Michelle   $37
 The deep ruby/purple-colored 2000 exhibits a plump, sweet nose of black currants, cherries, licorice, and hints of tapenade as well as leather. Medium to full-bodied, with moderate tannin (lost in the wealth of fruit and glycerin), and a charming, velvety style, it will drink well for 10-14 years. Wine Advocate #145 Feb ’03. RP 89. Drink: ‘03 – 2017.

2000 Clos des Papes  $47
Reveals 14.6% alcohol, and is stylistically similar to the great 1990. Open-knit and fat, with higher levels of glycerin as well as a more corpulent style than the structured, backward 2001. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by sweet, black cherry/kirsch liqueur-like notes presented in a voluptuous, full-throttle, intense style. It is already revealing such secondary nuances as pepper, garrigue, and truffles. Chewy, full-bodied, and moderately tannic, this cuvee is accessible, but not ready to drink. Wine Advocate #145 Feb ’03. RP 95. Drink: 2007 - 2025

2000 Domaine du Galet des Papes $36
The deep ruby-colored 2000 offers a smoky, anise, peppery, black cherry-scented bouquet, medium to full body, and heady, succulent flavors possessing more weight and concentration revealed prior to bottling. Enjoy this luscious 2000 over the next 6-7 years. Wine Advocate #145 Feb ’03. RP 89. Drink: 2003 - 2010

2000 Cabrieres Chateauneuf du Pape, Cuvee Prestige Tete de Cru $55
The superb 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige Tete de Cru boasts a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a sumptuous perfume of figs, plums, prunes, and jammy black cherry fruit. It offers a large, voluminous mouthfeel, an unctuous texture, full body, and a heady, concentrated, blockbuster finish. A beautiful wine with low acidity, sweet tannin, and gobs of glycerin as well as fruit, it should drink well for 10-15 years. Wine Advocate #145, Feb ’03. RP 91. Drink: 2003 - 2018

2000 Chapoutier, la Bernardine $35
La Bernardine is a negociant tank-aged blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that is bottled unfined and unfiltered. A fruity, soft, elegant effort displaying notions of pepper, kirsch liqueur, and lavender presented in a soft, round, medium-bodied, easygoing style. From bottle, it seems slightly less concentrated than it did from tank. It is a wine to drink during its first 8-10 years of life. Wine Advocate # 145 Feb 2003. RP 87. Drink: 2003 – 2013.

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How The Wines Scored

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