2010 Chateauneuf du Pape les Haut Lieux

Bright purple. Sexy raspberry and blueberry aromas are complicated by candied floral and anise qualities, gaining spicecake and cola qualities with air. Sweet dark fruit liqueur flavors have excellent depth and clarity, with a vibrant mineral quality adding lift. Shows impressive power, sweetness and focus, finishing with outstanding clarity and lingering sweetness.

There are only 6,000 bottles of the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hauts Lieux, which comes from pure limestone soils. It boasts an impressive purple color in addition to lots of mineral-laced, crushed rock, blueberry, boysenberry and raspberry notes. The stunning purity, full-bodied mouthfeel and voluptuous, long finish make for a potentially legendary Chateauneuf du Pape. Those wines under the name DAUMEN are from Jean-Paul Daumen’s negociant operation. Some of them actually emerge from estate fruit that he has declassified from his vineyards. They are limited production, but exceptionally impressive cuvees, so consumers take note. Daumen is one of the most meticulous viticulturists and winemakers in Chateauneuf du Pape. From his cellars in the appellation’s northern sector known as Gres, he has long fashioned some extraordinary Chateauneuf du Papes as well as a small amount of high octane Cotes du Rhone from some of the oldest vines owned by his family. For starters, Daumen’s 2011s are some of the finest wines of the southern Rhone. Yields for both the estate and negociant cuvees averaged a mere 26 hectoliters per hectare, which is well under two tons of fruit per acre. Never one to rest on his already impressive laurels, Daumen has basically renamed his Chateauneuf du Papes to reflect the parcels from which they emanate. As for the new estate Chateauneuf du Papes, no Reserve cuvee was produced, so there are only two offerings. Various American importers, including: T. Edward Wines, Ltd., New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504; Route des Vins Imports, LLC, Charleston, SC; tel. (843) 737-0301; VinConnect Inc., CA; tel. (415) 857-5740