The dense purple-colored, animal, meaty 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hesperides (60% Grenache and the rest equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre) will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should last 15 years. I wonder what it will taste like when it is fully mature?
With 25 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape and even more acreage in surrounding Cotes du Rhone areas, this exceptionally well run estate has been producing high quality wines under the Bonnet family regime for at least a decade. The three 2010 Cotes du Rhones I tasted all merit consideration. The 2009 Chateauneuf du Papes are largely drinkable, with the exception of Les Hesperides.
Importers: Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; tel. (434) 977-4476; Vigneron Imports, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 530-1616; Oslo Enterprise LLC, Takoma Park, MD; tel. (301) 326-2056