WTN: Three visits to the Pope

[Jenise]

2007 Clos des Brusquières Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Big, sweet and ripe--wouldn't have to tell an experienced taster that this came from a hot vintage. A decent drink but lacks essential Rhone-ness. Lots of sediment.

2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Spectacular; nothing like the pruney bottle we opened in January (thank god). Impressive fruit and texture, nicely developed but not 'old'--in that perfect spot in middle-age I love most. Minimal sediment; decant not needed.

2004 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Soft fruit, some spice. Seems grenache-driven, but on the sedate side of that grape with fully resolved tannins and less acidity than I'd prefer.

A sedate Chateauneuf. I didn't think these exist anymore.

[Jenise]

A sedate Chateauneuf. I didn't think these exist anymore.

I think it's the age more than anything in this case. The lack of tannins and acidity took the pop out of the pape.

Hmm. Our LWS has the 2017 Clos de Brusquieres for $39. Wonder if it's worth the coins?

Haven't had a CDP in years. All the ones we've had were gifts. La Nerthe, Beaucastel.

[Jenise]

Pat, I'll bet it is. This '07 was one I tasted before buying, it didn't strike me as ripe in its youth as this bottle does now. I love CdP--increasingly so. You should try things like this every now and then just to keep your palate informed!

I envy you increasingly enjoying your CDPs - I am finding them far too heavy, ripe and ponderous, even with well aged examples. I keep trying, but almost dread opening them now. Hopefully I'll find a few outliers along the journey...

[Jenise]

"Ponderous" would be a good description for the Brusquieres. Didn't love it, but it wasn't undrinkable. The Clos St. Jean was the gem in this lot.