Xavier Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Anonyme 2017

Natalie Maclean

From Xavier Vignon Cuvée Anonyme 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is toasty on the nose with ripe blueberry and cedar spice aromas. Fruity, dry, medium-bodied and plushy on the palate with dark berry, cherry, cedar, pepper spice, savoury herb and a smattering of vanilla long on the finish.

David Lawrason

Cuvee Anonyme, as the name implies, is an unknown blend, sort of. It is certainly anchored on grenache but includes many other varieties that planted side by side in various parts of the appellation. So a kind of field blend, that is then aged in barrels of various size and age, plus a portion in concrete. It is a rich, elegant and quite refined wine for its size (15%), a gentle giant. The nose shows classic grenache pepper, plummy fruit, violets - all well harmonized. Focused on the palate as well, with firmly embedded tannin. Excellent length. Styed for drinking anytime, but I would age this another three years.

Michael Godel

At the top of the class for Xavier is this Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe called Anonyme and it is anything but anonymous when it comes to great perfume, matched by equally great expectation. Brings to mind a Dickens quote: “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” Vines and fruit exposed to such extremes will test mettle and possibility, but only those that struggle will eventuate into wines as special as this. Big expression, full throttle, high in every respect and all parts moving confidentially forward in balance. Crunchy despite the warmth and suffering, leading to success. Embrace it all

Sara d'Amato

A modern cuvée with well managed ripeness and slippery tannins. Darker notes of syrah contrast the sweet, crunchy grenache on the palate and clash deliciously. Vanilla-tinged oak treatment is more dominant on the nose than on the palate. Ripe, modern and polished with very good length.

WineAlign

Rolf Madsen, Vinexpressen

Så er der pedal! Fuld gas fremad uden og at kigge sig tilbage. Fejende flot næse med masser af jordbær, kirsebærsten, lidt rosin, en gang sød lakrids og et drys af stødt sort peber på toppen. Ret luftig i både duft og smag, men samtidig enormt intens og ekstraktrig med et overflødighedshorn af poleret syre og støddæmpende frugtsødme spundet ind i en gang silkebløde tanniner, der bider de rigtige steder i munden….Høj genkøbsfaktor. 93 (vurderet ved en tilbudspris på kr. 350)

Robert Parker

Tasted from barrel, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme adds toasty notes, cedar and vanilla to the whirlwind of fruit Vignon was able to harness in 2017. Blueberries, black cherries and stone fruit notes abound in this plush, full-bodied red that remains silky and focused on the long finish. It looks to be a terrific effort.

Jeb Dunnuck

A wine that's going to compete with the 2015 and 2016, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme sports a deep purple color as well as a balanced, elegant, full-bodied, sexy personality that's already hard to resist. It has loads of dark fruits, peppery herbs, and violet notes, fine tannin, no hard edges, and sensational balance. It’s going to be approachable on release yet also evolve gracefully.

Vivino