The 2006 Clos des Papes was the winning bottle in the February Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for an hour and served with burgers.
Clos des Papes is owned by the Avril family, now headed by Paul Avril and his son Vincent. The family has been making wine in Chateauneuf-du-Pape for 300 years. The name Clos des Papes comes from the fact that the original vineyard was part of a papal estate located inside a chateau. The Avril family now owns parcels throughout the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation, giving the estate a total of nearly 90 acres of vineyards planted mostly to Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah.
Ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, blood, Herbes de Provence and leather. Medium body with medium acidity. Rustic fruits in spades. Well balanced. Strawberry, kirsch, iron and roasted herbs on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with notable tannins. Classic CdP from an overlooked vintage. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Current vintages of Clos des Papes are readily available. Look for the the 2019 and 2020 but expect to pay upwards of $100 per bottle.