Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from South Africa, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Italy, Spain and more….
Timed Online Auction, 27 June - 15 July 2024
Rhone
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
One of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s key historical properties, Clos des Papes is a 40-hectare, organically-farmed domaine. Back in 1896, it was the very first Rhône producer to bottle and sell its own wines under its own label. Of the 40 hectares, 3 are planted to white varieties with 30 different parcels spread around the village. One of the parcels is planted near the Pope’s castle, surrounded by a wall, or ‘clos’, which inspired the name of the domaine. Current custodian, Paul-Vincent Avril is a passionate man who seeks balance, elegance and depth in his wines. At 16, Paul-Vincent left his family domaine to study around the world and complete internships, including a stint at Château Mouton-Rothschild, before returning home and taking over the reins.
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Clos des Papes’ flagship wine and produced from vines of minimum 50 years of age. The blend is made up of around 65% Grenache, with 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and 5% other varieties.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Lurid ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes raspberry liqueur, cherry compote, exotic spices and candied lavender. Juicy, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering impressively concentrated and sharply delineated flavors of sappy red fruits, succulent herbs, spicecake and candied flowers that spread out steadily on the back half. Densely packed but also lithe in character, finishing with slow-building tannins that shape the exuberant red fruit on the extremely long, sappy and penetrating finish.’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 97/100 (Dec 2019)
‘Very youthful and tightly focused now, featuring a lovely beam of cassis, cherry preserve and raspberry pâte de fruit notes leading the way, backed by light floral, bergamot, anise and apple wood accents. The fruit is warm and caressing, with solid grip and drive through the finish due to a buried graphite element. Stays alluring, with lots of subtle charm, despite the density and layers. This will cruise in the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2040.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 97/100 (Mar 2019)
‘Closed nose, very much in recess at present, but with plenty of brooding black fruit on the palate. Chocolate, aniseed, leathery, meaty. Impressive length, and well proportioned, yet there is much less complexity and scope than it is bound to be capable of.’ – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17++/20 (Oct 2018)
‘The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is full-bodied but balanced, with plenty of richness and concentration but also a certain paradoxical lightness. It offers complex garrigue and anise notes, a blend of cherry and raspberry fruit, a silky texture and a long finish that shows no sign of the wine's 15.8% alcohol. For technocrats, the wine's pH is 3.7, which is sufficient acidity to maintain a fine sense of balance. This lovely wine should drink well for at least two decades. Together with the 2015 and the 2017, it will be a compelling trio of wines to follow over the years.’ – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 97+/100 (Aug 2018)
View all Paul Avril Clos des Papes lots for sale in this auction
Other lots that might interest you
