An outstanding effort in a difficult vintage, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemus Papam (95% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre, aged all in foudre) offers up gorgeous Grenache character with its kirsch, candle wax, crushed flowers and white pepper-driven bouquet. Soft, supple and perfumed on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness and fine tannin, it’s delicious, but should be on a relatively fast evolutionary track. Drink now-2019.
While mostly known for his superb Gigondas releases (which, along with his other Cotes du Rhones, will be covered in Issue 210), proprietor Yves Gras fashions a superb Chateauneuf du Pape.
Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 239-1275