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2010 Domaine Jean Royer Cuvee Prestige Chateauneuf du Pape

Chateauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
$54. 99
Bottle
$659.88 Dozen
Cellar: 5 - 8 Years (2017-2020)
ABV: 15.5%
Closure: Cork

Although settled in Chateauneuf du Pape since the 18th century, the wines of the Royer family have only come to prominence in the last 20 years. Upon finishing his viticultural studies, Jean-Marie Royer took over the estate in 1985. After his father’s passing in 1966, the land had been let out to different vignerons of the appellation by family members and so, it was Jean-Marie's first task to rebuild the Domaine. Convincing his family to let him reclaim the vineyards was only a first step as the wines produced from the land were been sold entirely to the negociants. Slowly building credibility and recognition, he now produces a range of six different Chateauneuf expressions and the dark horse of the family, “Le Petit Roy.”

Exciting New Discovery.

From the area of Bois de la Vieille to the south of the appellation, this text book terroir of galet on the terraces of the Rhone is a gold mine for top quality Grenache. Royer harvests manually followed by double sorting of the fruit while fermentation is conducted in concrete and enamelled tanks. One third is aged in new barrels.

100% Grenache, Jean Royer’s Cuvee Prestige displays a very deep, near opaque dark red purple colour with dark crimson red hue. Lifted dark raspberry and black cherry aromas are followed by some meaty earth like characters, a hint of liquorice and spice. Dense and powerful the palate delivers concentrated flavours of black raspberry and liquorice followed by some meaty spice characters and blackpepper on the back palate. Slightly chewy and dry but balanced tannins. Long aftertaste of black raspberry, liquorice, meaty spice and blackpepper.
Cellar 5-8 years (2017-2020).
Alc 15.5%

Other Reviews….
Vignobles Jean-Marie Royer is a very small estate of just over 12 acres, located in the southwestern sector of the appellation, not far from St.-Prefert, with their holdings in the two best known sectors of that area, Bois de la Ville and Les Grandes Serres. Tight, backward and primary, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige is loaded with black raspberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with licorice and a hint of the seaweed wrapper nori as well as garrigue notes. Dense and full, it is a beauty, but it will need 4-5 years of cellaring and should keep for 15+ years.
90-93+ points
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Dark red. Ripe, deeply pitched cherry and black raspberry on the fragrant nose. Then brighter on the palate, with sappy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors picking up spiciness and smokiness with air. Closes sweet and impressively long, leaving notes of allspice and licorice behind.
92-94pts
Tanzer’s IWC (Josh Raynolds)