Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2011
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Even more impressive and mostly likely one of the top 10-12 wines in the vintage, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is an up-front, sexy and perfumed blend of close to 100% Grenache. Possessing notions of kirsch liqueur, raspberry, creamy licorice and crushed flowers, it is full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has an overall hedonistic, seamless profile that's hard to resist. I don't think it will make old bones though, and it should be at its best during its first 10-12 years of life. Don't let that deter you though as this is one delicious thrill ride of Grenache. Drink now-2023.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Noticeably richer and more concentrated, the 2011 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, hedonistic offering that oozes Grenache flair (it’s blend of 97% Grenache) with perfumed aromatics, layers of texture, notable freshness, and sweet tannin that emerges on the finish. While it is one of the stars of the vintage, it will be approachable at an earlier age, and should evolve gracefully for 12-15 years.
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Wine Spectator
A bright, racy style, this has a bold cassis and cherry paste core backed by mouthwatering anise, apple wood and fruitcake notes. The vibrant finish offers sleek acidity and a buried iron accent. Remarkably pure, showing grip at the very end. This should put on some weight in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030.
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In 1990, the Domaine became the first in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape to implement biodynamic farming practices. Their youngest vines are 40 to 60-years-old, and in short, the sisters do as little as possible to the harvested grapes. This domaine, as critic Stephen Tanzer put it, is "the essence of Chateauneuf-du-Pape."
In 2003, Robert Parker named Sophie and Catherine on his list of "Wine Personalities of Year," writing, "Over the last 12 years, the biodynamically farmed vineyard has risen to the top of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's quality hierarchy. The two red wines produced have been stunning, with the regular cuvée of Chateauneuf-du-Pape one of the finest in the appellation, and the limited production Cuvée Vieilles Vignes one of the world’s truly magnificent wines."
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.