Clos des Papes 1997 - Paul Avril - Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Clos des Papes 1997 - Paul Avril - Châteauneuf-du-Pape

About the domain:

Do we still need to present the Clos des Papes to amateurs like you? This Châteauneuf du Pape has been owned by the Avril family since the 17th century.

The 32ha estate is spread over 24 plots certified organic since 2011. These plots offer diversified terroirs; obviously rolled pebbles (you know the big pebbles that capture the heat during the day to release it at night), sand and gravel. Red wines represent 95% of the estate's production.

The vines are very old and renewed as infrequently as possible, so yields are low but the concentration and aromatic complexity are enhanced.

About the 1997 vintage:

The 1997 vintage is very irregular for the French vineyard. Nevertheless, the Rhône Valley and Beaujolais did particularly well despite a slight lack of maturity for certain appellations.

Opinion of WUAT: We are very fond of wines from this estate, the style is always very precise, fine, velvety but also concentrated in aromas. In addition, it ages beautifully. With age, finesse takes over in a more "Bourguignon" style, but the fruit is still there and constantly evolving, even thirty years later.

You can keep them in the cellar almost indefinitely.