2010 Domaine Grand Veneur "Vieilles Vignes" Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1085314 100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A monumental effort meriting a perfect score, the super-rich 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a 4,000-bottle blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah from 55- to 105-year-old vines and was aged for 18 months in small oak. The wine offers majestic blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with kirsch, licorice and subtle Provencal herbs in the background. It is akin to chewing meat in the mouth given its viscosity and thickness. This utterly amazing wine comes close to being over the top, but it pulls back just in time. A massive Chateauneuf du Pape (even for a 2010), it needs 5-6 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25-30 years. Bravo! (10/ 2012)

92-94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(50% grenache, 30% mourvedre and 20% syrah, raised in new barriques): Glass-staining purple. Very ripe on the nose and palate, offering roasted plum and cherry compote qualities and notes of oak spice and candied flowers. Exotic and densely packed, with a velvety texture and slow-building licorice and bitter chocolate nuances. Finishes with string spicy bite and very good persistence, leaving notes of cherry pit and star anise behind. (2/ 2012)

93 points Wine Spectator

Ripe and packed, but well-focused, with a broad beam of linzer torte and boysenberry fruit backed by graphite, violet and pastis notes. Picks up plenty of muscle and toasted spice on the finish, showing lots of latent depth in reserve. Very solid. Best from 2014 through 2024. (7/ 2012)

K&L Notes

50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah.