2010 Chante Cigale Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1122912 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is a traditional blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Mourvedre and Cinsault from 50-year-old vines aged in a combination of concrete tanks, old wood foudres and small old barrels. It displays notes of charcuterie, roasted meats, garrigue, kirsch and black currants along with a full-bodied, seriously endowed, super-concentrated mouthfeel that builds like a skyscraper in the mouth. This cuvee possesses remarkable density and richness as well as the potential to last 20 years. An old estate, Chante Cigale, which owns nearly 100 acres of vineyards (45 separate parcels) throughout the northern and southern sectors of Chateauneuf du Pape, is owned by the Favier family. Currently, it is managed by the young, super-talented Alexandre Favier. Some of the estate’s finest plots are planted in sandy soils (in which Grenache seems to flourish) located next to Chateau Rayas. The spectacular Vieilles Vignes cuvee, which was first made in 1996, comes primarily from Bois Dauphin as well as Les Pialons (from where Daniel Brunier’s Roquete emerges) and the plateau of Cabrieres north of the village. Chante Cigale’s 2010s may be the finest wines I have ever tasted from this estate. (10/ 2012)

Jancis Robinson

Lieux-dits Bois Dauphin, Palestor, Pignan. 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault. 20% spends 12 months in barrique, 80% spends 16 months in concrete. 80,000 bottles. Lustrous mid crimson. Meaty, zappy, very polished and snazzy. (All the Zs...) Really very good winemaking. Nothing remotely rustic about this, but nor is it industrial either. Fresh finish. 17.5/20 points. (12/ 2011)