M. Chapoutier - Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe Barbe Rac 2008

Bettane et Desseauve

Wine Spectator

La Revue du Vin de France

Gismondi on Wine

This 100 per cent grenache is described as coming off a quaternary terrace (The quaternary covers the time span of glaciations classified as the Pleistocene ) with a surface of shingles (galets) coming from the former bed of the Rhône river. The vines are 90 years old. Look for a spicy meaty, barnyard nose with black plum, garrigue, leather, savoury, roasted pepper, curry and five spice aromas. Dry, elegant, tight but with finesse and fine tannins. Peppery, black plum, wild game, savoury, thyme, Christmas cake and curry dominate with and orange peel flavours wand more meaty, barnyard notes. You can drink it now or hold it for ever. A very aromatic but elegant style. (

Jeb Dunnuck

Drinking even better now than on release, and up there with the best of the vintage, the 2008 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac is lithe and elegant, with beautiful red fruit-driven aromas, licorice, garrigue, and minerals all emerging from the glass and developing with air. Fresh, clean, and complex, this medium-bodied 2008 has a silky, polished texture, excellent underlying structure, and plenty of length on the finish. It will continue to improve with another year or three, and drink well for a decade. Perfect with food, this is one of those off vintage purchases that you’ll look back on and pat yourself on the back for buying.