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Cuvée du Vatican

17 notes Sort by: Vintage - Name - Rating

2019
91
The nose is discreet and requires coaxing before you find the flowers, kirsch, thyme and spice character. Medium-bodied, soft and gently polished, this is going to be just great on release. Drink from 2022 - 2033

The nose is discreet and requires coaxing before you find the flowers, kirsch, thyme and spice character. Medium-bodied, soft and gently polished, this is going to be just great on release. Drink from 2022 - 2033

2,112 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Medium-bodied with an earthy, herb filled nose to accompany all those sweet, spicy red berries, the wine is soft, elegant and with a nice purity to all its red fruits. The tannins show a bit of chalky dust that I like in the finish.

Medium-bodied with an earthy, herb filled nose to accompany all those sweet, spicy red berries, the wine is soft, elegant and with a nice purity to all its red fruits. The tannins show a bit of chalky dust that I like in the finish.

868 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Medium bodied, with a salty accent to the garrigue dusted, crisp, red fruits. This should drink well young. The wine is made using 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.

Medium bodied, with a salty accent to the garrigue dusted, crisp, red fruits. This should drink well young. The wine is made using 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.

3,163 Views   Tasted
2015
88
Medium bodied, forward and perfect for early drinking pleasure, the fruit is soft, with sweetness and herbs in the finish.

Medium bodied, forward and perfect for early drinking pleasure, the fruit is soft, with sweetness and herbs in the finish.

3,290 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Medium bodied, correct, forward, clean and focused on fresh, red fruits and spice for early drinking.

Medium bodied, correct, forward, clean and focused on fresh, red fruits and spice for early drinking.

2,732 Views   Tasted
2013
87
Medium bodied, forward, correct red berry dominated wine for uncomplicated drinking.

Medium bodied, forward, correct red berry dominated wine for uncomplicated drinking.

2,908 Views   Tasted
2012
88
Spicy and fresh, the kirsch flavors show off its essence of Grenache.

Spicy and fresh, the kirsch flavors show off its essence of Grenache.

2,845 Views   Tasted
2011
86
Easy drinking and forward in style, enjoy this, bright, red berry focused wine young.

Easy drinking and forward in style, enjoy this, bright, red berry focused wine young.

2,735 Views   Tasted
2010
92
Earthy, forest floor, kirsch, animal and smoked meat aromas get you interested in the wine. Soft, round and chewy, the wine ends with ripe, black cherries. This is a screaming value!

Earthy, forest floor, kirsch, animal and smoked meat aromas get you interested in the wine. Soft, round and chewy, the wine ends with ripe, black cherries. This is a screaming value!

3,131 Views   Tasted
Earthy, forest floor, kirsch, animal and smoked meat aromas get you interested in the wine. Soft, round and chewy, the wine ends with ripe, black cherries.

Earthy, forest floor, kirsch, animal and smoked meat aromas get you interested in the wine. Soft, round and chewy, the wine ends with ripe, black cherries.

2,674 Views   Tasted
2009
92
Forward and open, with just a hint of oak in the nose, the wine is plush, juicy, ripe and round, with lots of sweet black and dark red fruits, licorice and herbs. Drink now for pleasure. Age it for complexity.

Forward and open, with just a hint of oak in the nose, the wine is plush, juicy, ripe and round, with lots of sweet black and dark red fruits, licorice and herbs. Drink now for pleasure. Age it for complexity.

3,963 Views   Tasted
2007
92
Served blind, popped and poured, scents of licorice, jammy plums, truffle, earth and kirsch were in full force. Concentrated, rich and full bodied, there was a touch of heat in the finish.

Served blind, popped and poured, scents of licorice, jammy plums, truffle, earth and kirsch were in full force. Concentrated, rich and full bodied, there was a touch of heat in the finish.

4,109 Views   Tasted
Vatican Sixtine remains one of my Chateauneuf du Papes. Who can complain when a winery blends fair prices with good quality? This big, powerful, rich, ripe wine is filled with dark jammy berries, fresh cracked pepper, raspberries, earthy aromas, supple textures and a long finish.

Vatican Sixtine remains one of my Chateauneuf du Papes. Who can complain when a winery blends fair prices with good quality? This big, powerful, rich, ripe wine is filled with dark jammy berries, fresh cracked pepper, raspberries, earthy aromas, supple textures and a long finish.

6,684 Views   Tasted
2006
90
Tight, bright and not nearly as much fun to taste as the 2007, which were both served blind. This is a nice Chateauneuf du Pape, but for my palate, it would be hard to get excited about it.

Tight, bright and not nearly as much fun to taste as the 2007, which were both served blind. This is a nice Chateauneuf du Pape, but for my palate, it would be hard to get excited about it.

4,544 Views   Tasted
Deep in color, with licorice, blackberry, earth, spice and garrigue, the wine felt rich with its round, open style. I imagine it will only get better over the next few years. Modern in style and a lot of fun to taste.

Deep in color, with licorice, blackberry, earth, spice and garrigue, the wine felt rich with its round, open style. I imagine it will only get better over the next few years. Modern in style and a lot of fun to taste.

3,401 Views   Tasted
2005
92
It's still a bit oaky, which is not something I really want in a Chateauneuf du Pape, especially one that is 10 years or older, but there is so much, ripe, sweet, lush kirsch, spice and freshly cracked black pepper, which is all made better with its round, plush textures, I can forgive it. I am not sure this is going to get better, but it's really fine today.

It's still a bit oaky, which is not something I really want in a Chateauneuf du Pape, especially one that is 10 years or older, but there is so much, ripe, sweet, lush kirsch, spice and freshly cracked black pepper, which is all made better with its round, plush textures, I can forgive it. I am not sure this is going to get better, but it's really fine today.

2,936 Views   Tasted
2003
94
Produced from incredibly low yields ranging from 17 to 25 hectoliters per hectare, this rich, intense, powerful, plush style of Chateauneuf du Pape remains deeply colored. With a nose packed with fennel, jammy blackberry, blue fruit, pepper, herbs, spice, griotte and smoke, the wine slides from the glass, filling your palate with pleasure. It's big, rich and packed, yet everything is in balance. There is no sensation of heat from the 15.7% ABV. Vatican Sixtine remains one of the best values in a world of increasing prices. I'd drink this over the next 5 years to preserve its freshness and fruit.

Produced from incredibly low yields ranging from 17 to 25 hectoliters per hectare, this rich, intense, powerful, plush style of Chateauneuf du Pape remains deeply colored. With a nose packed with fennel, jammy blackberry, blue fruit, pepper, herbs, spice, griotte and smoke, the wine slides from the glass, filling your palate with pleasure. It's big, rich and packed, yet everything is in balance. There is no sensation of heat from the 15.7% ABV. Vatican Sixtine remains one of the best values in a world of increasing prices. I'd drink this over the next 5 years to preserve its freshness and fruit.

3,911 Views   Tasted
2001
93
Black pepper, plums, dark cherries, jammy black raspberries and kirsch aromas make way for a concentrated, rich, mouthful of ripe Grenache. This is drinking great today.

Black pepper, plums, dark cherries, jammy black raspberries and kirsch aromas make way for a concentrated, rich, mouthful of ripe Grenache. This is drinking great today.

5,757 Views   Tasted
1998
92
Fully mature, with an earthy, peppery, garrigue, truffle and kirsch nose, the wine is full bodied, fleshy, long and ready for prime time drinking. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre, which explains its longevity.

Fully mature, with an earthy, peppery, garrigue, truffle and kirsch nose, the wine is full bodied, fleshy, long and ready for prime time drinking. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre, which explains its longevity.

2,914 Views   Tasted
1985
75
Tart red fruit is the name of the game here. The wine is crisp and sharp, with biting acidity. Better on the nose than on the palate, this requires consumption.

Tart red fruit is the name of the game here. The wine is crisp and sharp, with biting acidity. Better on the nose than on the palate, this requires consumption.

1,274 Views   Tasted