1997 | Paul Avril Clos des Papes | Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Red Wine: 1997 | Paul Avril Clos des Papes | Chateauneuf-du-Pape

The nose is beautifully sweet and ripe with well delineated raspberry fruit and already a nicely gamy edge, There’s a hint of red cherry too. The palate is clean, smooth and fruity.

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Producer: Paul Avril Clos des Papes

Vintage: 1997

Size: 750ml

ABV: 14%

Varietal: Southern Rhone Red Blend

Country/Region: France, Rhone

The nose is beautifully sweet and ripe with well delineated raspberry fruit and already a nicely gamy edge, There’s a hint of red cherry too. The palate is clean, smooth and fruity. There is a spicy richness at its core, and fine but grippy tannins. This seems fairly straightforward, but is well-balanced and already delicious.

Producer Information

Paul Avril Clos des Papes is a highly regarded wine producer in the southern Rhne appellation of Chteauneuf-du-Pape. Established by Paul Avril in the early 20th Century, the estate makes one of the most sought-after wines in the region: Clos des Papes. The estate is made up of 24 small plots throughout the appellation totalling 32 hectares (79 acres). All of the 13 permitted grape varieties in the Chteauneuf-du-Pape appellation are grown in these vineyards, although Grenache, Mourvdre and Syrah are the most important in terms of production. Picking is spread out to ensure maximum quality, and green harvests and strict berry selection ensure a low yield. Clos des Papes takes its name from one of its plots: a walled vineyard located near the ruins of the 14th Century Papal castle. There are two main wines associated with Clos des Papes: a red and a white wine. The red accounts for 90 percent of production and typically contains 65 percent Grenache, 20 percent Mourvdre and 10 percent Syrah, with the remainder made up of the other permitted Chteauneuf-du-Pape varieties. The wine is known for its finesse and elegance, and is one of the most important wines in the AOC. The Clos des Papes blanc is made up of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Picpoul, and is aged in stainless steel. The estate, now run by Paul-Vincent Avril, also produces a Ctes du Rhne Villages Massif d’Uchaux as well as Le Petit Vin d’Avril red and white Vin de Table wines from declassified Chteauneuf-du-Pape. Clos des Papes makes around 100,000 bottles a year, most of which is exported.