Wine Advocate February, 2014 This was a tight, slightly reserved showing by Jean-Paul Daumen’s 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape, and I’ve recently had bottles that rated slightly higher. Nevertheless, it was still outstanding and offered the tell-tail black licorice, black cherry, spring flowers and spice characteristics that are almost always present in the wines of this estate. Medium to full-bodied, youthful and fresh on the palate, with fine tannin and good length, it’s a delicious drink now, and will continue to drink nicely for another 5-7 years. The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the finest wines of the vintage. Deep ruby/purple with good acidity, dense, sweet, floral, black cherry, raspberry, and black currant notes all resonate in the aromatics and flavors. Quite full-bodied, richly textured, but with good acidity, this is a brilliant wine that should age effortlessly for 10-15+ years. Moreover, it has the advantage of being approachable enough to be drunk now. By the way, their normal blend of Chateauneuf du Pape is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. Drink: 2008 - 2028
-Wine Advocate #169 Feb 2007

(93-95 pts)
There is only one cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape in 2004, the Tradition, which is everything from the estate, a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. Remarkably, the Grenache comes from 80- to 100-year-old vines, the Syrah from 40-year-old vines. It is one of the vintage’s superstars with the inky/purple-colored wine offering up floral, sweet cassis notes intermixed with raspberry and cherry. The wine is full-bodied, richly textured, with beautiful floral and black fruit notes on the palate, full body, fabulous texture, and a ripe, sweet, expansive finish with relatively noticeable tannin. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years. Drink: 2008 - 2028
-Wine Advocate #163 Feb 2006
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