Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape 2020

Jeff Leve: Flowers are the first thing you notice before discovering all the spice, cloves, kirsch, and dark cherries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, elegant, fresh, supple, and refined. The kirsch shows a beautiful purity and spicy character, along with its refined tannins and peppery strawberries that kick in at the end of the finish. The wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah with the remaining 5% consisting of various, allowable grape varieties. The grapes are as always 100% destemmed. The production is quite low this year at only 25 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is 15.2% ABV, but you do not sense any heat. Drink from 2024-2038. 98/100

Falstaff: Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Ockerrandaufhellung. Nuancen von schwarzen Kirschen, rotes Waldbeerkonfit ist unterlegt, süße Gewürze, ein Hauch von Nugat, facettenreich und einladend. Saftig, komplex, nahtlose Textur, zeigt eine feine Fruchtsüße, samtige, tragende Tannine, feine Mineralität, verfügt über Charme und Länge, zugänglich, großes Reifepotenzial, ein Wein mit Suchtpotenzial. 98/100

Robert Parker: I last reported on the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape prior to bottling, so let me update readers here. It's a terrific, red-fruited version of Clos des Papes, with raspberry and cherry notes accented by hints of black olive and allspice. Full-bodied, taut and firmly structured, with a long, concentrated finish, this is a vintage that should reward cellaring. 96+/100

James Suckling: A fine and poised Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of cassis, candied cherries, dried herbs, baking spices and black pepper. It's full-bodied with finely grained tannins. Velvety and layered with good concentration. It's elegant yet energetic and vibrant, with a flavorful, bright finish. Drink or hold. 95/100

Jancis Robinson: Fragrant and fine aromatically with cherry and kirsch notes. Palate rich, suave and supple, the Grenache component to the fore. Tannins really fine and integrated offering length and persistence and devoid of any aggression. Not the power of some vintages but elegant and pure in style. 17,5/20