1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Anything but Port, this includes all wines other than fortified wines (which have their own section) even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
Forum rules
Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23568
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Post by jdaw1 »

On Wednesday 3rd June 2015 CSD, JDAW and AHB met at Portland (113 Great Portland Street W1W 6QQ) for some blind bottles.

Links:
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23568
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Post by jdaw1 »

1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, from the wine list of Portland restaurant. Dark red, 50% opaque. In palate acidity prominent, mid+ weight. Some heat, good length. Great balance and structure, but the acidity says ‘drink up’.

I saw the bottle, so didn’t guess. Had I guessed I would have been completely wrong.
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23568
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Post by jdaw1 »

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=92319#p92319]Here[/url] Chris Doty wrote:the Portland was excellent, and sold me a bottle of 1996 Clos des Papes, which I was excited to try. I thought it showed very good mature CNDP character, but not quite in the top tier of wines from that region, owing towards some dustyness and bit of slack towards the finish, but still very solid and with years ahead.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14868
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I didn't see the bottle, enjoyed the wine, picked up some cedar and guessed it to be a 1995 Beychevelle. Not a disgraceful guess, but not up to my Doty Cup standards.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
WS1
Cruz 1989
Posts: 1058
Joined: 23:08 Wed 04 Feb 2009
Location: Hertfordshire

Re: 1996 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Post by WS1 »

1996 Clos des Papes is a good CDP from a mediocer to rather not so good year in Chateauneuf. Overall pleasant to drink but not a block buster. Worth mentioning the winemaking changed completly at the Domain Clos des Papes after 1990 which is the last vintage of Clos des Papes in which hid did not destem. Hence also the longevaty of the newer vintages is no longer as good as with the very old ones.
"Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough"
Mark Twain
Post Reply