2010 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1084643 99 points Wine Advocate

Mind blowing stuff, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is most likely the greatest wine ever from this estate. Still inky colored, it has a powerful, slightly backward feel in its crushed rocks, cassis, kirsch, toasted spice, licorice and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Massively concentrated, thick, rich and textured, it delivers a serious lashing of tannin, yet nevertheless is perfectly balanced, ultra-pure, precise and long. It's the quintessential Clos des Papes and will have 30+ years of longevity. Note, yields were a miniscule 16 hectoliters per hectare, so there's not much of this out there. (JD) 99+ (9/2015)

98 points Decanter

Undoubtedly one of the greatest Châteauneuf vintages of recent times, up there with the 1990 - and perhaps the 2016; time will tell. It's deeply coloured still at seven years of age. Deep, dark and brooding on the nose, it's starting to take on some balsamic and forest floor notes. The palate is very harmonious, powerful and assertive, with firm, structural tannins. This is still very fresh, sinewy and tightly wound - it's not ready yet, but will be spectacular when it is. (MW) (10/2017)

98 points Jeb Dunnuck

The 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Paul-Vincent continues to fire on all cylinders and is a big, rich, structured beauty that flirts with perfection. Black raspberries, kirsch, dried garrigue, and dusty earth-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this huge, concentrated, incredibly structured 2010 that’s just now starting to shed a touch of baby fat. It’s going to hit full-maturity in another 4-5 years and last for another two decades. It’s an incredible, world-class effort that every reader should try to taste. (JD) 98+ (12/2017)

98 points Wine Spectator

Lots of cocoa powder and coffee frame a massive block of dark plum, black currant and fig fruit, while massively endowed tannins stride from start to finish. Cassis, anise and Lapsang souchong tea notes hang in the background for now, but should emerge more with extended cellaring. The very dark, almost brooding finish is dominated by charcoal-coated grip, but the purity still wins out in the end. A very, very large wine. *#4 Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012, Collectible* (JM) (10/2012)

96 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Inky ruby. Potent, intensely perfumed aromas on raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola, anise and smoky garrigue. Spicy and incisive, offering palate-staining red and dark berry flavors that become richer with air. Shows a superb balance of richness and vivacity, with dusty tannins giving grip to a long, spice- and floral-dominated finish. One of the top wines from the entire Rhone from this outstanding vintage. (JR) (2/2013)