"The old vine Grenache cuvee, the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin, ended up with about 15.1% alcohol, which is pretty high considering the vintage conditions. A wine of great finesse and elegance, this deep ruby/purple-colored effort has a big, sweet nose of crushed cherries, creme de cassis, raspberries, and spring flowers. The gorgeous ripeness, multi-dimensional texture, and tremendous finish all augur well for a wine that is going to be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage, drinking well for 12-15 years. It is delicious already." -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 93 points Feb/07
"The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin (an old vine Grenache offering) is concentrated and tightly knit displaying good acidity, firm tannin, rich, full-bodied power, and stunning concentration as well as length. Unlike such vintages as 2003, 2001, 2000, and 1998, the 2004 requires 3-5 years of bottle age; it should keep for 15+. Sabon said its alcohol was essentially equivalent to the 2003 at 15.4%." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 91-94 points Feb/06
