TN: 2007 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée La Cote Ronde

[JimHow]

• 2007 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée La Cote Ronde - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/23/2010)
  Over the top. 15% alcohol. Gobs of licorice and black raspberries. Super-concentrated. Hot. Almost Amarone-like. There will probably be some drama as it ages. But I love this decadent wine right now. A black beauty! (93 pts.)

[HarryKaris]

15% isn't over the top for CdP wines Jim. What about the oak? This wine sees some decent oak.

Harry

[JimHow]

Oaky indeed, Harry, but it didn't bother me.

[JonoB]

More evidence that 07 C9s need oak!!!!!

[Jay Winton]

Thanks Jim. I've got 6 at PC waiting to ship. I don't think I'll open one for several years.

[HarryKaris]

A good Châteauneuf NEVER really needs a lot of oak......and when, especially for the Mourvedre, Syrah and VV Grenache, just a hint from part of the wine aged in 1-2 year old not too toasty oak barrels......

Harry

[JonoB]

Harry, normally I'd agree and find oak to not be good for C9s, but in 07 the fruit is so ripe that it probably needs some to tame it.

07 fruit seems so heavily concentrated that it verges on the sickly sweet unless it was picked incredibly early which in the search for hWSRN points most people don't. I think that those with oak will show better than those without, but in the future when the wines are ready to drink, who knows?

[HarryKaris]

Jon, I partially agree. Only very few CdP's see a lot of oak (Mont Redon-La Nerthe and several special cuvees). Even in powerful super fruity vintages such as 2007 you will find many great CdP wines aged just in tanks (concrete, stainless steel and even epoxy) and most of them in old foudres. I think that aging of the Syrah and Mourvédre in partly new barrels can add complexity to the wine in the final blend with Grenache as does partly aging of VV Grenache especially in 1-2 year old demi-muids. I' m not against oak but for me it all comes down to balance.

Are you living in London? I'm doing some promotional activities in London November 19-21.

Harry

[JonoB]

Flitting between London, The Middle Kingdom and Tokyo...

I might be around depending on flights but more likely Japan.