2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Clos des Papes, Paul Avril & Fils, Rhône

2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Clos des Papes, Paul Avril & Fils, Rhône

Product: 20081110487
Prices start from £515.00 per case Buying options
2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Clos des Papes, Paul Avril & Fils, Rhône

Buying options

Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
Case format
Availability
Price per case
12 x 75cl bottle
BBX marketplace BBX 1 case £515.00
UK ONLY
UK ONLY
You can place a bid for this wine on BBX

Description

Vincent was very active in the vineyards in 2008 and his efforts have paid dividends in a wine which captures all of the legendary Clos des Papes richness and structural harmony. The perfect coincidence of ripeness owes as much to the magical flair of the master as to the benevolence of nature. Drink 2012-2018.

wine at a glance

Delivery and quality guarantee

Critics reviews

Wine Advocate93/100
Undoubtedly one of the best Chteauneufs of the vintage, Clos des Papes's 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape was in surprisingly fine form. Full-bodied but wonderfully silky with age, it shows developing aromas and flavors of tree bark, cola, dried spices, red cherries and white button mushrooms. While I wouldn't expect it to last forever, it should provide delicious drinking over the next 5 years or so. It was made from tiny yields of 16 hectoliters per hectare and reached 14.7% alcohol in what was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhne.
Joe Czerwinski - 31/08/2018 Read more
Jancis Robinson MW18/20
Bright crimson. Broad, round, transparent. Some freshness on the finish. Slightly dry tannins on the end at the moment. Firm and fine. Not just big. Great freshness. Carefully served before 2010 though.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com- 28-Feb-2013 Read more
Robert Parker91/100
Vincent Avril fashioned one of the finest 2008 Chateauneuf du Papes of the appellation. Made from a classic blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and the rest an assortment of permitted varietals, it exhibits a dark color as well as a bouquet of lavender, kirsch, licorice, loamy balsamic notes and hints of roasted meats and herbs. Evolved by this estate’s standards, it is an elegant effort with surprising density and richness. I actually prefer it to the 2005 (which was The Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year). The 2008 should drink nicely for 10-15 years. 
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate -Oct-2010 Read more

About this WINE

Paul Avril et Fils

Paul Avril et Fils

With Vincent Avril at the helm, Clos des Papes is one of the most highly regarded properties; not only in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but in the world of wine. This family estate has been certified organic for 15 years, with high attention to detail translating into impressively low production levels. Given that the vines here average over 50 years of age, they are firmly prepared and able to withstand many ordeals, including Mistral winds at 140 kilometres an hour, severe heatwaves and drought conditions. Thankfully, they were spared from the latter two in 2020.

When you visit this iconic estate, what stands out most is the complete focus on the vineyard and the absolutely hands-off approach in the cellar. The wines are amongst the purest expression of terroir you could ever wish to taste. There is a magic here that transcends the liquid in the bottle – Clos des Papes is a nonpareil of sheer brilliance.

Vincent is exceptionally happy with his ’20 wines, saying, “I can tell you ’20 is, I think, a great year that will stand the test of time. A very balanced, fine vintage with great freshness, silky tannins and good length in the mouth. Everything was climatically united, both for the red and the white. Currently, ’20 reminds me of ’05 and ’07.”

Find out more
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

Find out more
Southern Rhône Blend

Southern Rhône Blend

The vast majority of wines from the Southern Rhône are blends. There are 5 main black varieties, although others are used and the most famous wine of the region, Châteauneuf du Pape, can be made from as many as 13 different varieties. Grenache is the most important grape in the southern Rhône - it contributes alcohol, warmth and gentle juicy fruit and is an ideal base wine in the blend. Plantings of Syrah in the southern Rhône have risen dramatically in the last decade and it is an increasingly important component in blends. It rarely attains the heights that it does in the North but adds colour, backbone, tannins and soft ripe fruit to the blend.

The much-maligned Carignan has been on the retreat recently but is still included in many blends - the best old vines can add colour, body and spicy fruits. Cinsault is also backtracking but, if yields are restricted, can produce moderately well-coloured wines adding pleasant-light fruit to red and rosé blends. Finally, Mourvèdre, a grape from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast, has recently become an increasingly significant component of Southern Rhône blends - it often struggles to ripen fully but can add acidity, ripe spicy berry fruits and hints of tobacco to blends.

Find out more