55% Grenache, 45% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre

95 WA

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape la Reserve Secrete (55% Syrah and 45% Grenache) was completely destemmed and raised in 65% small barrels. It's far from a classic Chateauneuf du Pape, yet it's no less sensational because of it. Offering a fabulous array of jammy black currants, black cherries, flowers, menthol and incense, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a big, layered mid-palate, a seamless, ripe, silky profile and lots of peppery and herbal notes on the finish. There's a suppleness here that makes it already hard to resist, yet given the higher Syrah content and its massive concentration, I'm sure it will evolve for another 15+ years. Jeb Dunnuck