Autard Chateauneuf du Pape 2007

Jean-Paul Autard is fast becoming one of the best-known winemakers in Chacirc;teauneuf-du-Pape. His rsquo;03 is a blend of 60 percent Grenache and 30 percent Syrah, with some Mourvegrave;dre and Counoise. In 2000, Autard replaced his old foudres with small barriques to help preserve more fruit detail. This traditional-style Chacirc;teauneuf-du-Pape sees only about 5 percent new oak.

Jean-Paul Autard is fast becoming one of the best-known winemakers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. His '03 is a blend of 60 percent Grenache and 30 percent Syrah, with some Mourvèdre and Counoise. In 2000, Autard replaced his old foudres with small barriques to help preserve more fruit detail. This traditional-style Châteauneuf-du-Pape sees only about 5 percent new oak.

The 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a big, fruity, tasty wine. quite soft, it will certainly require consumption over the next 4-7 years. It is elegant, attractively plump, with plenty of smoky herbs intermixed with black cherry notes and a bit of licorice and earth.

The 2003 Chacirc;teauneuf-du-Pape is a big, fruity, tasty wine. quite soft, it will certainly require consumption over the next 4ndash;7 years. It is elegant, attractively plump, with plenty of smoky herbs intermixed with black cherry notes and a bit of licorice and earth.

The opaque ruby/purple-colored 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up beautiful, sweet black raspberry and kirsch fruit, tremendous opulence, and a sexy, gamy character. Layered, sumptuous, and long in the mouth with excellent purity and freshness, it should drink effortlessly for 10-15 years.

Nearly candied up front, with a hard shell around the black cherry and boysenberry fruit flavors, but sweet mocha, spice and mineral notes emerge in the end, where fine-grained tannins carry the finish. A beauty that should develop nicely. Best from 2008 through 2020.

This delivers a very large core of crushed currant, plum and blackberry fruit, all held in check by hints of maduro tobacco, bittersweet ganache, black tea and graphite. The long finish has ample grip, lending further length and definition to the impressive range of fruit. Best from 2010 through 2025.