The beautiful 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (from 80- to 100-year-old vines) is a blend of 60% Grenache and the rest equal parts Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise aged in concrete tanks and old wood foudres. An effusively fruity, exuberant effort, it reveals plenty of juicy black currants and black cherries intermixed with lavender, licorice, incense, and forest floor. Full-bodied, dense, and seductive with silky tannins and a long, lush, opulent finish, it is impossible to resist at present, and should continue to evolve for 10-12+ years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 31 October 2009