WTN: Papes Can You Hear Me

[David M. Bueker]

• 2000 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1/20/2025)
  From my dad’s cellar, this was in perfect shape. Sweet red cherry liqueur, warm saddle leather and herbs, and a dusty, just barely roasted finish make for a classic and classy Chateauneuf. Not a lot in te way of structure evident, but something is holding all the elements in place. No heat, no brett, it’s about as pleasurable a wine as I could want. The $36.99 price tag adds an extra smile.

No heat in 2000 is good!
I think I have one 2001, should open soon

IIRC, 2000 is a couple of years before Cambie started consulting there (with predictable results). Nice find! 2000 as a year was a tad acid-deficient for my tastes, but the better producers still made very tasty wines in that vintage.