He was the most influential wine critic in the world and is now a gracious old man with a white beard. That's right, I'm talking about Robert Parker. In his long wine career, he has tasted all the world's fine wines, but the most haunting thing is not the Bordeaux in France that you are familiar with, nor the wine in his hometown (the United States), but the relatively low-key Rhone Valley in France. A large part of Parker's private collection comes from the Rhône Valley, where Chateauneuf-du-Pape accounts for a lot. Why did Papal New Castle win the heart of Parker's old man?
Château-Dupont-Du-Pape satisfies all parker's fantasies about wine...
The elegance and nobility of Bordeaux, the exquisite intricacies of Burgundy, the Château-Du-Pape are just right. She is like an eight-sided beauty slowly moving her steps, you may not be able to see her true face, but your heart is already in turmoil.
Châteauneuf-Dux wine thus succeeded in capturing Parker's heart. Châteauneuf-Pape wines often receive a perfect 100 out of 100 from Parker, such as Chateau Rayas in 1990, whose tasting notes state: "It has always been one of the most proud collections in my cellar, and I have had the privilege of drinking nearly 3 cases." "This arrogant tone, let's just listen to it." Xiaobian summarized the characteristics of the new castle under Pope, and it felt that it was completely tailor-made for Parker's taste buds!
- Châteauneuf-Dupont is ripe and full-bodied. Parker believed that great wines must be made from ripe fruits, otherwise they would only get immature tannins, aromas and high acids. Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes wines also have a high alcohol content, usually around 14%.
- Châteauneuf-Dupont wines are fruity. Parker said that if a wine is not full of fruit, how can it be guaranteed to have enough complexity after aging. Papa Neufsburg red wines usually have fresh red and black fruit flavors, such as cherries, strawberries, blackcurrants, etc., most of which are very tasty at a young age. White wines, which produce very little, also have fresh citrus, honeysuckle, orange and other fruit aromas.
- Château-du-Pape wines are rich and rounded in taste. A wine taste is too simple to tasteless, rich and round taste can bring the most soul-destroying enjoyment.
- The structure of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines is grand. With just one sip, every corner of your mouth is filled with the scent of this wine, just as surprising and stunning as the domineering president.
- Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes wines are complex and varied. Only with excellent complexity can wine withstand long periods of aging.
- Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes wines have a strong ageing potential. To get a high score from Parker, excellent aging ability must not be less. The top Château-Duc-Pape can be placed for decades, while most Château-nys-Papes have an 8-12 year of ageing potential.
The charm of Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes doesn't stop there...
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Papal royal wine, so tasteful, please give me a dozen
If you had to choose a bottle of wine with taste, Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes must be at the top of my list. Chateauneuf-du-Pape means "Pope's new castle", a name that has been around for some years. In the 14th century, the wine-loving Pope came to Avignon in the Rhone Valley and made wine and promoted wine culture here, so the wine here was called "papal royal wine".
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France's first AOC region, the most famous grand village in the Rhône Valley, cattle!
Do you think the famous French AOC system came from Bordeaux? That would be wrong, the prototype and model of the French AOC system was formulated by Baron Pierre le Roy, a winemaker at Chateau Fortia in château-du-Pape, so Château-du-Pape is also known as "France's first AOC appellation". Not only that, Châteauneuf-Dux-Duc is also at the highest level in the grading system of the entire Rhône Valley, that is, the special name village, and it is also the most famous of the few special famous villages, one word, cattle!
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The relief pattern is beautiful
Château-Du-Pape-Neuf has not only connotations, but also high appearance. The bottles of Châteauneuf-Pape wines are generally embossed, and two crossed keys and a papal crown have become the same as the card of Châteauneuf-Duc. Noble, mysterious, solemn, atmospheric... These adjectives seem to be difficult to perfectly interpret the temperament of The Châteauneuf-Duc.
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With 18 varieties of grapes by law, it's no wonder the style is so complex
Due to the long history of the Château-Dux-Duc region and the fact that the vines are long-term crops, there are many legal varieties here, up to 18 varieties. Red grape varieties mainly include Grenache (Grenache), Syrah (Syrah), Mourvedre (Mourvedre), of which, Grenache's planting area accounts for more than 70%, it is the absolute king of red grape varieties here, the wine produced is lighter in color, high in alcohol, rich in aroma, it is often mixed with Syrah, Muhe white and so on. The main white grape varieties are Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and so on. With so many legal varieties, it can be said that it is the highest in France, it is no wonder that the wine style is so varied.
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Châteauneuf-Pape wine, taste it to appreciate Parker's deep love
Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wines are not only rich in fruity tastes, but also often have wild medicinal flavors influenced by the local Garrigue soil, which is also one of its characteristics. These wines are full-bodied and strong in their young age, and gradually become silky and supple as they age. White wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape account for only 5% of total production, they are fruity and well-balanced in structure. The top Papal Neuburg white wines have been kept for decades, most notably Beaucastel Vieille Vignes.
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These vintages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are the most important things you should consider when buying wine
The following vintages are good vintages for Châteauneuf-Duc: 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1981, 1978, 1970, 1961.
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How do Châteauneuf-Dupont wines pair with food?
When it comes to food pairing, Châteauneuf-Pape wines are solid all-rounders. Red wines range in style, from strong and full-bodied to elegant and sophisticated, but they all have fresh fruity and spice flavours that pair perfectly with meats such as roast beef, veal, game, sausage and lamb, or heavy seafood dishes. Pape-Neuburg white wines can be paired with almost all types of fish, shellfish, oysters, lobsters, crabs, sushi, chicken, pork and other meats as well as creamy dishes and a variety of cheeses.
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Recommended by the famous château des Papes- Neuf
Domaine du Pegau: Friends who have seen The Water drops of the Gods should be familiar with this winery, and the Cuvee da Capo brewed by the winery is the third apostle. Château Pego has a long history, with grape cultivation dating back more than 300 years. It was named one of the 155 greatest wineries in the world by Parker and one of Parker's favorite Papal New Castles.
Château Dessiers: There are no special château buildings, no new oak barrels, no large signage, this is Sycamore. All the wines are brewed in small warehouses on the hill, and to avoid new oak barrels overshadowing the original flavor of the wine, there are old oak barrels of various sizes, most of which have been used for 70 years. The vineyards are small and the wine production is pitifully small, but it is this carefully brewed product that has won Parker's "heart".
Chateau de Beaucastel: Founded in 1687, Chateau Bocastle is one of the oldest large-scale family-owned wineries in Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes. Bocaster is undoubtedly the star of Châteauneuf-Duc des Papes, whose flagship winery, Hommage a Jacques Perrin, has received 5 full Parker's points and is highly praised by Parker as the "perfect wine". The Pierre family, who run the winery, is a member of the World's First Winery Family Alliance (PFV, made up of 11 of the world's most recognizable wine families, including Mouton-Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Imon Muller Scharzhof, etc.).
Finally, here are 3 reasons to drink Châteauneuf-Duc:
- If you like fruity, spiced wines, Châteauneuf-Dupont is the perfect choice.
- If you like mature, high-alcohol wines, Châteauneuf-Duc 100% will satisfy you.
- If you want to buy a wine with content and taste, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Papal Royal Wine, produced in France's first AOC appellation and the most famous grand village in the Rhône Valley, this is enough.