$54.99 on 3+ (code: 3saves3)
$57.99 US Low

Our Tasting Note (1/23/25)
Deep ruby red core, ruby edges. Really pretty red hues. The nose is pronounced with black raspberry, black cherry, fig, damson, with garrigue, garden herbs, subtle and spices. The palate is med+ to full bodied, a silky and velvety palate feel, with gently intense fruit and spice, long on the finish. A very balanced, classic profile.
On the pull of the cork this was about half primary and half tertiary, but as it had time to open the primary aspects took over and were more prevalent. However, this is a big boy at 15.5% abv but wears it well. Outstanding, soulful and rich, this is classic in every sense of the word for a Chateauneuf du Pape. Aged 14 years, this ended up being more primary and less evolved than I would have expected, which makes me love this more for the high quality that shows and it’s ability to get even better with more cellar time.

**** (out of 5 *) JLL
John Livingstone-Learmonth
typical Grenache plum red robe. There is an agreeably sweet coulis-liqueur angle on the red berry fruit aroma, which is a true southern display that invites the drinker. It is evocative of lazy summer days. The palate rolls along on an orb of red berry fruit with a munchy, sustained depth of tannins. The quality and nature of this wine comes from within; there is a lot of spiced flavour on the finish which helps its lift. This is really persistent, and truly goes long. It is a real grass roots wine,STGT, straight from warm lands. Way to go Papal wine. Good til 2028-30

60-85% Grenache (oldest early 1900s), 11-25% Mourvdre, 0-15% Syrah, 0-10% Cinsault, 0-5% Bourboulenc from the plateaus of Les Brusquires (N-W), Tresquoys (N-W), 70% destemmed, 4 week concrete vat vinification, pumping overs, part vat emptying and refilling and manual cap punching, aged 50% concrete vat, 20% used 228-litre oak casks, 20% used 550-litre oak casks, 10% large barrel, unfined, unfiltered

“Clos des Brusquires is one of the last domaines in the appellation to produce a single wine, and it is consistently a really, really good, old-school rendition of Chteauneuf-du-Pape.”– Vinous Media

Situated in Brusquieres,insidersknowabout this wine love it!The inside secret to the great wine’s success is the relationship to legendary Chateauneuf producerHenri Bonneau,the uncle and godfather to Claude Courtil, the owner and winemaker atClos de Brusquieres. Claude Courtil learned much of what he knows about winemaking from his uncle Henri Bonneau. And while I could not confirm it, it seems he also madethe Bonneau wines while Henri’s son son got up to speed after Henri’s death a few years ago. Claude of course still helps out and consults with his cousin in making the Bonneau wines.

The other night I took home a sample bottle of this 2011. We were supposed to have it in the tasting last week but the bottle we had was corked so the replacement sample arrived after the event. It was spectacular! See my tasting note below. I first had this on my first (and only so far)trip to Chateauneuf do Pape way back in 2010. We had this at lunch inChateauneuf at the restaurant just underneath the half-blown out Chateau castle (thanks Nazis) at the center of the village. This wine was perfect and hit all the marks I like about CdP. The old school winemakingapproachallows the classic notes and style ofChateauneufto show itself:flamboyant grenache with a cut of firmer and more structured Syrah and Mourvedre to provide a solid counter, the definition of a great red blend.

• 80%Grenache, 10%Syrah, 9% Mourvdre,1% other 10 grapes permitted in AOC
• Vines are 40-100 years of age
• The vines are spread over three main parcels: Tresquoys, Brusquires, and Le Parc which is the parcel located inside the walls of the famous chteau.
• Stems usually included, on average just 30%, depends on the vintage
• 4 week concrete vat vinification, pump-overs, and manual cap punching
• Aged on average 20-24 months, half in cement, half in varied large neutral oak foudres before bottlingunfined andunfiltered.

Clos des Brusquieres

For five generations the Courtil family has been a family of traditional vignerons. Since 1969, Claude Courtil has been at the helm of Clos des Brusquires. Claude was only 18 when he inherited the domaine from his late father which makes him one of the most experienced producers in all of Chteauneuf-du-Pape! Having to start at such a young age and all by himself, Claude was lucky to have an experienced and knowledgeable cousin in the form of Henri Bonneau. Henri showed young Claude the ropes and today we can still see the impact Henri has made at Clos des Brusquires.

The name of the domaine is derived from a parcel in the northwest of the appellation called Les Brusquires. Claudes grandfather deposed the name Clos des Brusquires in 1926. Today, Claude is aided by his wife, affectionately nicknamed Nanou, and his son, David.