Well, popes. At a local retailer tasting last night:
2007 Chateau Fortia Chateaneuf-du-Pape Blanc
58% Clairette, 30% Roussane and 12% Grenache Blanc. Liked this a lot: creamy white fruit, pear, nice acid, elegant on the palate. Very good. $32(purchased)
2007 Clos des Brusquieres Chateauneuf du Pape
Enticing floral nose, good spice, mainly grenache characteristics of cherry and strawberry fruit with pepper, medium bodied, more about balance than blockbusterness. Very good.
2007 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf du Pape
Bigger and richer than the Brusquieres. Parker's notes are spot-on: beautiful sweet kirsch fruit, licorice, and spice box characteristics. Layered with a stunning crunchy, chewy fruitiness...gorgeous texture...lively vivacity. (purchased) Excellent. $42
2007 Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape
This one disappointed. Lacks the focus of other vintages of Usseglio I've had and just kind of misses the whole 07 boat--no spice, low acid, hot alcohol. $76. Pass.
2007 Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve
This one's mostly syrah. Good deep ruby color, violet nose, great purity and length. Very good to excellent. $46. (Purchased).
2007 Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape
An absolute gem and my WOTN. Big bodied, smoke, pencil, good balance of red and black fruit, plums, spice, red meat, garrique and a little animale. Outstanding. $70. (Purchased)
2007 Clos des Papes
Six days ago I had my first Clos des Papes, a 2000. Now here's the 07 and I can't reconcile the two. The 00 was huge: big bodied, viscuous, with saturated black fruit flavors. This one (decanted four hours earlier) is much lighter and my first impression is brett. As we swirl our glasses I'm looking for it to blow off, but it doesn't, it just comes more into balance as the highly polished fruit expresses itself. I like it--I like it a lot--but in no way is this the bodice ripper that the Donjon is. And at half the price at that. Nonetheless the geek in me wants to own one so I attempt to buy one of only three bottles for sale this night, and find they all went before the first wine was even poured. I'm kind of relieved. Excellent. $150.
