The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape, which comes from the appellation’s northeastern lieux-dits of Chapouin and Coudoulet, is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah and Cinsault, aged almost entirely in stainless steel. It is a fresh, seductive, medium-bodied effort with silky tannin, loads of sweet kirsch and black currant fruit, and a lively, heady finish. Already hard to resist, it is best consumed in its first 5-6 years of life.
(Not yet released)
I’m not sure this estate made any 2008s since they did not present them in 2009 or 2010. From a bio-dynamically certified vineyard, the wines from Berthet-Rayne are clearly on the upswing.
Importers: Elite Wine Import Co., Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; Eagle Eye Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. 734-467-7088; Ted Edward Wine Ltd., New York, NY (no phone number available); and Casa Bruno LLC, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 235-7429