Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Chateauneuf Du Pape Barbe Rac 1994
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1994 Barbe Rac possesses a textbook Provencal bouquet of lavender, garrigue, herbs, black olives, and jammy black-cherry scents. Powerful flavors bursting with extract and glycerin provide immense volume and force in the mouth, as well as a surprising sense of elegance and finesse. This full-bodied Chateauneuf du Pape will come around much sooner than the 1995 (4-6 years), yet it will drink well for two decades. Last tasted 6/96.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Chapoutier's Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac is made from a tiny parcel of old vines (planted in 1901) near the famed Chateau La Gardine. The 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac possesses a textbook Provencal bouquet of lavender, garrigue, herbs, black olives, and jammy black-cherry scents. Powerful flavors bursting with extract and glycerin provide immense volume and force in the mouth, as well as a surprising sense of elegance and finesse. This full-bodied Chateauneuf du Pape will come around much sooner than the 1995 (4-6 years), yet it will drink well for two decades. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996. Importer: Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL; tel. (312) 247-7070
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Chapoutier continues to offer two cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape. The special cuvee called Barbe-Rac is made from a parcel of old Grenache vines planted in 1901 and 1902 on the plateau of Chateauneuf du Pape. The 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe-Rac (from yields of 8 hectoliters per hectare, or .5 ton of grapes per acre) is a huge wine, with a massive richness and intensity reminiscent of the great 1990. There is more suppleness and unctuosity to this thick, juicy wine, as well as less noticeable tannin than in the 1993. The 1994 is powerful and rich, with layers of intense, smoky, sweet black-raspberry and cherry-like flavors intertwined with pepper and roasted herbs. This wine will be far more approachable in its youth than the 1993, but it is another classic, super-concentrated Chateauneuf du Pape that should evolve for two to three decades. Very impressive! Importer: Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL; tel. (312) 247-7070
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Chapoutier's Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac is made from a tiny parcel of old vines (planted in 1901) near the famed Chateau La Gardine. The 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac possesses a textbook Provencal bouquet of lavender, garrigue, herbs, black olives, and jammy black-cherry scents. Powerful flavors bursting with extract and glycerin provide immense volume and force in the mouth, as well as a surprising sense of elegance and finesse. This full-bodied Chateauneuf du Pape will come around much sooner than the 1995 (4-6 years), yet it will drink well for two decades. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996. Importer: Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL; tel. (312) 247-7070
About the Producer
Founded in 1808, M. Chapoutier owns 175 hectares of vines in five appellations in the Rhone Valley and is now run by the energetic and brilliant Michel Chapoutier. Since Michel started running the estate, the quality of the winemaking has improved very quickly and the philosophy of winemaking has changed considerably. Michel Chapoutier's achievements caused an instant sensation in the winemaking world and he completely changed the way Chapoutier wines were made and the winemaking process, eventually making wines to rival those made by Marcel Guigal, one of the best winemakers in the Rhone Valley. The vineyards of Château Sapoutier range from the Rhone Valley to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a number of quality vineyards planted with Syrah, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne and other major grape varieties. The winery is "mono-varietal" (i.e. making wines from a single variety), for example, all Syrah for the Châteauneuf-du-Rotie wines, all Marsanne for the Hermitage whites and all Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are all Grenache. Château Sapoutier has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of its wines, even though each single vineyard produces far more than the 500 cases of fine wine. Since 1989, Château Sapoutier has been using biodynamic farming and winemaking methods with the aim of producing wines that are the purest and closest to the natural terroir. Every decision, every step of the viticultural and winemaking process is designed to add to the terroir, varietal character and vintage identity of the wines. Only wild yeasts are used for fermentation and the wines are made in small oak barrels. The best red and white wines are not clarified or filtered before bottling.
