2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine la Roquette
Dry, Red, Still
France
To be consumed 2005 – 2011 
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Tasting Note
Roquette should not be thought of as a second wine, it is a domaine in its own right, different to Vieux-Télégraphe due to its varied vineyard sites. The 2000 leaps from the glass with expressive garrigue herb, red fruit, clove and chocolate aromas. These characters are brought through onto the medium weight palate, and combine with fine ripe tannins and a touch of dry spice due to a higher percentage of Syrah. The finish lasts for several seconds, and the 14% alcohol, far from overshadowing the fruit, acts to lift it from the glass. Delicious now and till 2013+.
Region Details
A confident wind is blowing through the Rhône valley; Syrah, Grenache and Viognier are the grapes of the moment, and the Mediterranean diet has been adopted around the world as the mark of a good life, further energising sales of Rhône wines. From Côte-Rôtie through to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there is a sense of optimism and forward motion.
While united by the presence of the river, the two halves of the region couldn’t be more different. The northern Rhône consists of a narrow band of vineyards that follow the course of the river as it heads south. The vineyards are dramatically steep in parts, and the climate is continental, similar to that of the southern extremes of Burgundy. In terms of the wines produced, Syrah reigns supreme as the only red varietal, while white wines invariably consist of a proportion of both Marsanne and Roussanne.
Other than the river, the south shares very little with the north. Flatter and much more Mediterranean in climate, it is Grenache that features most heavily for red wine production, supported mainly by Syrah and Mourvèdre. White wine production is equally as varied; Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, Clairette, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are all found here. With such a wide base of varieties, styles and wines can and do vary dramatically.
Vintage Notes
2000 - Rhône
Acknowledged as the third high-quality vintage in a row, in the south at least. A very hot and dry spell from mid-August until mid-September accelerated ripeness, and Grenache in particular was marked by a profound depth of red fruit characters and elevated alcohol. While some wines were affected by drought-stress and show angular tannins, where older vines were planted is easy to find wines of substantial depth and heady maturity. The conditions in the north were marginally less favourable, though few producers have made anything other than very good wines. Some wines attained sugar ripeness without skin ripeness and lack conviction, though conversely a small number of producers’ 2000s exceed the quality achieved in 1999.
Grape Variety
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