B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
Long-time readers and Chateauneuf lovers will recall the glorious wines I offered during the 2007 CdP campaign. Those were the most succulent examples most of us had ever experienced – I called them mysterious – deep, dark black fruits and figs with espresso, smoke, cedar, roasted meat and hoisin; they were the most intense bottlings ever. Many have wished for a return of those mysteries, subsequent vintages missing the mark, if even by just a hair's breadth. Having tasted a cross section of the newly bottled 2015s, I'm here to say it's time to stop holding your breath. These are the real deal; 2007's fraternal twin. Our buddy Jeb, writing one of his most important articles for Wine Advocate, tells us, "As for the 2015 vintage... the region received more sunshine than in either 2010 or 2011... The reds are full-bodied and show beautiful purity of fruit... Moreover, the quality is incredibly high across all of the appellations, and even across all varieties, which is uncommon... Most vignerons I spoke with compared 2015 to a mix of 2007 and 2010... At the end of the day, 2015 is a beautiful vintage for Southern Rhône lovers that will be a treasure trove for the actual wine drinkers out there." You're gonna want that! |