The 2022 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape is a proprietary blend from the renowned Clos des Papes winery in the Southern Rhone region of France. This red wine has garnered significant attention and high praise from professional reviewers for its complexity and aging potential.
Jeb Dunnuck, writing for jebdunnuck.com, awarded this wine an impressive score of 99 points. He notes that the 2022 vintage "reminds me of the 2007 with its incredible sexiness and seamless, elegant texture." Dunnuck describes the wine as full-bodied with a layered mouthfeel, featuring nuances of "black cherry liqueur, Provençal herbs, flowers, and licorice." He emphasizes the wine's gorgeous tannins and exceptional finish, concluding that it is "unquestionably up with the finest in the vintage."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also gave the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape a near-perfect score of 99 points. The publication's review highlights the wine's rich concentration, dark fruit flavors, and nuanced elements such as "hints of asphalt, truffle, and dried spices." With a full-bodied profile and a long, softly dusty finish, this wine is noted for its aging potential, capable of lasting up to two decades.
Decanter offers a slightly more restrained yet still laudatory review, scoring the wine 96 points. They note a reduction in Mourvèdre this year, resulting in a "fairly classic albeit pretty bombastic" profile. The wine's flavors include "raspberry and black cherry, ripe and exuberant," with a touch of licorice. Decanter advises that the tannins are a bit grainy and recommends drinking the wine young or waiting until 2030 for optimal enjoyment.
Vinous, through Nicolas Greinacher, also rated the wine at 96 points. Greinacher describes the wine as "alluring," with vivid aromas of "licorice, sage, blueberry, lavender, red and black cherry, as well as crushed flowers." He praises its full-bodied intensity and balance, noting the polished tannins and potential for graceful aging over the next two decades.
In summary, the 2022 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape is a highly acclaimed wine, celebrated for its complexity, depth, and aging potential. With scores ranging from 96 to 99 points, it stands as a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of Clos des Papes.