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Rotem and Mounir Saouma Chateauneuf Du Pape Arioso 2011 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Rhone Valley
appellation
Chateauneuf Du Pape
JS
98
WS
97
WA
92
Additional vintages
JS
98
Rated 98 by James Suckling
I tasted this and I thought of the great Rayas from the late 1980s. Full body, bright fruit and a creamy texture. Its purity of fruit is amazing with dark berry, spice, meat and dried flowers. The first vintage of this was 2009. Made from old vines planted in the 1940s. Aged three years in demi mouie. Very low sulfur too. Drink or hold. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Rotem and Mounir Saouma Chateauneuf Du Pape Arioso 2011 750ml

SKU 925052
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$1064.40
/case
$177.40
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
JS
98
WS
97
WA
92
JS
98
Rated 98 by James Suckling
I tasted this and I thought of the great Rayas from the late 1980s. Full body, bright fruit and a creamy texture. Its purity of fruit is amazing with dark berry, spice, meat and dried flowers. The first vintage of this was 2009. Made from old vines planted in the 1940s. Aged three years in demi mouie. Very low sulfur too. Drink or hold.
WS
97
Rated 97 by Wine Spectator
Lightly mulled raspberry, bergamot, persimmon and black cherry fruit flavors are seamlessly stitched together, with hints of black tea, cinnamon and sous-bois filling in the background. Graceful overall, but with ample anise- and ganache-edged grip that is well-embedded through the finish. This should unfurl beautifully in the cellar. A thoroughly captivating wine. Best from 2017 through 2035. 315 cases made.
WA
92
Rated 92 by Wine Advocate
Looking like a step up over the ’12, the 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Arioso is 100% Grenache, all from the Pignan lieu-dit and vines planted in 1942, which will spend about 60 months in demi-muid prior to bottling. Despite this crazy long elevage, it stays fresh and lively, with a rich, rounded and creamy texture that carries loads of black cherry, black raspberry, spiced meat and crushed-flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, ripe and yet also elegant, it will have 10-15 years of longevity.
Winery
From his original 5 acres in Pignan, Mounir has one plot, of 100% Grenache planted in the 1930s, which yields naturally at a miniscule 1 ton per acre. From these vines he produces Arioso, a Chateauneuf of astounding depth and finesse.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Rhone Valley
appellation
Chateauneuf Du Pape
Additional vintages
Overview
I tasted this and I thought of the great Rayas from the late 1980s. Full body, bright fruit and a creamy texture. Its purity of fruit is amazing with dark berry, spice, meat and dried flowers. The first vintage of this was 2009. Made from old vines planted in the 1940s. Aged three years in demi mouie. Very low sulfur too. Drink or hold.
barrel

Vintage: 2011

The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines. In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
barrel

Region: Rhone Valley

There are few wine regions in the world with a history as long and illustrious as that of the Rhone Valley in France. For over two thousand years, wines have been produced in this region, benefited by the excellent, mineral-rich soils of the region, and the varied climate which allows a wide range of grape varietals to grow. The Rhone Valley is now split into two quite separate regions, with the north part being characterized by its cooler, continental climate and the limited number of grape varietals grown, and the southern sub-region being perfect for growing a wide range of grapes, and producing an exciting number of different wine styles. The Rhone Valley is associated with elegant, flavorful wines, and certain grape varietals such as Viognier and Syrah, which are adept at expressing the finer features of their terroir.
fields

Country: France

It is widely understood and accepted that the finest wines in the world come out of France. Whether you are drinking a vintage bottle from one of the famed Grand Cru wineries of Bordeaux - such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - or a more simple and affordable bottle from one of the lesser known appellations in Burgundy, the likelihood is that the wine is packed full of intense and interesting flavors, and has a fine, balanced structure typical of almost all French produce. This reputation for excellence is taken extremely serious by the French, with dozens of regularly updated laws and regulations ensuring the quality and accurate labeling of wines. Such dedication and passion for fine wine, representative of the region in which it is produced, means customers can be assured that when they buy a bottle from France, they are buying something almost certain to please and delight.
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews

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More Details
barrel

Vintage: 2011

The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines. In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
barrel

Region: Rhone Valley

There are few wine regions in the world with a history as long and illustrious as that of the Rhone Valley in France. For over two thousand years, wines have been produced in this region, benefited by the excellent, mineral-rich soils of the region, and the varied climate which allows a wide range of grape varietals to grow. The Rhone Valley is now split into two quite separate regions, with the north part being characterized by its cooler, continental climate and the limited number of grape varietals grown, and the southern sub-region being perfect for growing a wide range of grapes, and producing an exciting number of different wine styles. The Rhone Valley is associated with elegant, flavorful wines, and certain grape varietals such as Viognier and Syrah, which are adept at expressing the finer features of their terroir.
fields

Country: France

It is widely understood and accepted that the finest wines in the world come out of France. Whether you are drinking a vintage bottle from one of the famed Grand Cru wineries of Bordeaux - such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - or a more simple and affordable bottle from one of the lesser known appellations in Burgundy, the likelihood is that the wine is packed full of intense and interesting flavors, and has a fine, balanced structure typical of almost all French produce. This reputation for excellence is taken extremely serious by the French, with dozens of regularly updated laws and regulations ensuring the quality and accurate labeling of wines. Such dedication and passion for fine wine, representative of the region in which it is produced, means customers can be assured that when they buy a bottle from France, they are buying something almost certain to please and delight.