Chateauneuf du Pape

[lemmycaution]

Some of my favorite wines are from Chateauneuf du Pape. They are big and bold when young, but can be magnificent with ten years of age. I really like the wines from Domaine de la Janasse and Domaine Saint Prefert. I was wondering if you guys had any favorites or values (it's hard to find a good one for under $50, although there are a few.)

[thechenman]

I am also a fan of Chateauneuf du Pape...but I find myself honestly gravitating more towards CA and Aussie reds...

[Colt45]

I'm pretty much a fan of all things Rhone, though I buy more Cotes du Rhone and Gigondas than CdP, and more CdR than most others ($$).

I do have a few bottles of 1999 Le Vieux Donjon CdP that I should get around to trying.

[Taino]

Paul Hobbs Argentinean winery, Vina Cobos makes some mind blowing reds, for under USD 50.

I just love argentinean and chilean wines.

[Stalebread]

I'm pretty much a fan of all things Rhone, though I buy more Cotes du Rhone and Gigondas than CdP, and more CdR than most others ($$). I do have a few bottles of 1999 Le Vieux Donjon CdP that I should get around to trying.

Up to now, I've mostly tried wines from the Northern Rhone. Just recently I looked at a some Gigondas. Do you have any that you particularly like? Do any of these ring a bell with you?

-- St Cosme Valbelle 2006

-- Montirius 2004

-- Tardieu Laurent 2004

[Ken Gargett]

I'm pretty much a fan of all things Rhone, though I buy more Cotes du Rhone and Gigondas than CdP, and more CdR than most others ($$).

I do have a few bottles of 1999 Le Vieux Donjon CdP that I should get around to trying.

colt, i have some 98's that i should try. let me know how the 99s look and i'll try and find a 98.

[Ken Gargett]

Some of my favorite wines are from Chateauneuf du Pape. They are big and bold when young, but can be magnificent with ten years of age. I really like the wines from Domaine de la Janasse and Domaine Saint Prefert. I was wondering if you guys had any favorites or values (it's hard to find a good one for under $50, although there are a few.)

if i had to pick two producers, rayas and henri bonneau, but they are both exy and hard to find.

guigal is hugely reliable. beaucastel and vieux telegraphe both picked up their act hugely in recent years.

jaboulet largely down on form though their 1990 la chappelle is truly one of the greatest wines. sabon pretty good.

[lemmycaution]

if i had to pick two producers, rayas and henri bonneau, but they are both exy and hard to find.

guigal is hugely reliable. beaucastel and vieux telegraphe both picked up their act hugely in recent years.

jaboulet largely down on form though their 1990 la chappelle is truly one of the greatest wines. sabon pretty good.

All amazing wines. I recently opened a 2004 Vieux Telegraphe and have never seen so much sediment in such a young wine. There was a piece that looked like an actual whole leaf. I usually like sediment, but that was a bit much. Delicious wine.

[Colt45]

Up to now, I've mostly tried wines from the Northern Rhone. Just recently I looked at a some Gigondas. Do you have any that you particularly like? Do any of these ring a bell with you?

-- St Cosme Valbelle 2006

-- Montirius 2004

-- Tardieu Laurent 2004

For the most part, Gigondas is greatly underrepresented at my local shops, so I buy what is available when I see it. I did enjoy some bottled

by Chateau du Trignon, but not under their own label - it was an "importer selection", but good nonetheless.

So of the three you list, if within reason I'd try one of each. If I had to choose one to try, I'd probably go with the Laurent (based on reputation)

colt, i have some 98's that i should try. let me know how the 99s look and i'll try and find a 98.

KG, will do, but I'll probably wait until around Thanksgiving time.

[Stalebread]

. . .

So of the three you list, if within reason I'd try one of each. If I had to choose one to try, I'd probably go with the Laurent (based on reputation)

Ah, "within reason." There's the rub.

I've been looking around and they seem to be available but a bit out of my price range.

So I'm going to head to a shop that I remember carrying a lot of northern Rhone Valley stuff and see if they have anything from the southern part -- within reason.

[Colt45]

Ah, "within reason." There's the rub.

I've been looking around and they seem to be available but a bit out of my price range.

I would think that wine from Gigondas would be close in price to Crozes Hermitage from the north.

And if you're drinking Cote-Rotie or Hermitage, Gigondas should be no problem

[brian1]

I bought some 2007 Clos Saint Jean. Its a bargain of the great 2007 CDP. 2007 is a superstar vintage for CDP. So many great wines accross the board. By em now, while you can.

[aavkk]

So many great wines accross the board. By em now, while you can.

O boy... where have I heard that line before. Cigars... wine... I really wish my pallete responded well to JR Ultimates and jug wine.

[laficion]

I have many passions in life and one amongst them is wine.

Since I am from and living in the south of France, I enjoy and appreciate

many of the great wines that are to be found near where I live,

such as , côte-Rotie, Gigondas, Rasteau, etc. and ,of course, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

One of my favorite CNdP is, Château de Vaudieu which is in the heart of Châteauneuf.

We have had the occassion to have cigar dinners there and to particapate

in some great winetastings in the cellars as a cigar club,while enjoying the hospitality of our host,

Laurent Bréchet, owner of Château Vaudieu. If you like wines from the Rhône and you like CNdP,

have a look at their site. Hope you'll enjoy.

http://www.famillebrechet.fr/an/vaudieu.htm

[Colt45]

Interesting this pops back up - I tried a bottle of the '99 Vieux Donjon last night - turning brickish and perhaps barely past

peak, but excellent nonetheless. I won't leave my remaining bottle for much longer. I don't think you can really go wrong

with many Rhone reds.

P.S. Guy, I've had the good fortune to enjoy a very good, and inexpensive Costières de Nîmes.

[laficion]

P.S. Guy, I've had the good fortune to enjoy a very good, and inexpensive Costières de Nîmes.

Ross, When you have the chance, could you tell me which one ?

There are quit a few very good ones out there. Ciao

[Ken Gargett]

interesting indeed.

at a lunch last week and someone produced a magnum of 1981 gigondas from domaine les gouberts. my understanding was 81 was a pretty ordinary vintage in the region but i'd been reading decanter (uk wine mag) where they happened to mention one at a tasting that had looked good. and so did this. big surprise. i thought it drank really well. it was up against a fabulous 89 cos d'estornel so a tough job. and in case anyone has any in their cellars, the wine of the day by the provrbila country mile was an exquisite magnum of 1983 cristal. amazingly youthful.

another rhone name i've seen a bit of lately and which has impressed is bonnefond.

[Colt45]

Ross, When you have the chance, could you tell me which one ?

There are quit a few very good ones out there. Ciao

Guy, Chateau Grande Cassagne - "GS". I bought almost all my local had, but it's not something I see with regularity, unfortunately.

If you ever have the time, I'd love to hear your thoughts on wines to look for from this / your area.

[lemmycaution]

I have many passions in life and one amongst them is wine.

Since I am from and living in the south of France, I enjoy and appreciate

many of the great wines that are to be found near where I live,

such as , côte-Rotie, Gigondas, Rasteau, etc. and ,of course, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

One of my favorite CNdP is, Château de Vaudieu which is in the heart of Châteauneuf.

We have had the occassion to have cigar dinners there and to particapate

in some great winetastings in the cellars as a cigar club,while enjoying the hospitality of our host,

Laurent Bréchet, owner of Château Vaudieu. If you like wines from the Rhône and you like CNdP,

have a look at their site. Hope you'll enjoy.

http://www.famillebrechet.fr/an/vaudieu.htm

Thank you, Guy. I will try to track down some of their wines. Hopefully they are available, because I did not see a distributor for US on their site.

Take care,

Jim