Matt Walls. Tanguy Martin and David Round MW tasted 96 wines, with 21 Outstanding and 59 Highly Recommended.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 & 2009 panel tasting scores
96 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 21
Highly recommended 59
Recommended 13
Commended 3
Fair 0
Poor 0
Faulty 0
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their red Châteauneuf-du-Pape cuvées from both the 2019 and 2009 vintages
Forty-eight Châteauneuf estates, two wines each: a 2019 and a 2009. That was the basis for what proved to be a fascinating and memorable tasting.
The two years in question have a lot in common – both defined by hot, dry growing seasons producing an impressive crop of rich, ripe, concentrated wines.
The main differences are that 2019 was marginally hotter than 2009, certainly drier. So how the 2009s are showing now should give us insight into how the 2019s will be showing in 10 years’ time – a good point at which to start opening top Châteauneuf. And if the 2019s age as well as the 2009s, the principal takeaway is: buying some 2019s and cellaring them for 10 years will prove a very savvy move.
Scroll down for tasting notes & scores for the top-scoring 2019 & 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines
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Top scoring Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 & 2009
The following wines are listed in score order and all scored 93 points or above
{}
{"wineId":"58160","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58161","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58162","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58163","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58164","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58165","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58166","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58172","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58171","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58168","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58173","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58169","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58174","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"43853","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58170","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58167","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"16194","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"43784","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58176","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58177","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58175","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58182","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58178","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58181","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58179","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58180","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"43820","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58184","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58186","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"43802","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58188","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58189","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58191","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58192","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58193","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58197","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58200","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58202","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58187","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58185","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58196","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58194","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58195","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58183","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58190","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58198","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58199","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58201","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"43850","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Matt Walls is an awarded wine writer and consultant, a Decanter contributing editor and the DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône. His latest book Wines of the Rhône (£35, Infinite Ideas) was published in January 2021.
Tanguy Martin is business development manager at Roberson Wine. After his oenology studies in Beaune and Montpellier, he moved to England in 2011 and began a prestigious career as a sommelier, working at Hotel TerraVina, La Trompette and Blandford Comptoir among others. He was the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2015.
David Round MW is head of wine at online platform Pix, a wine buying consultant and judge, including for the DWWA. He has worked in various senior positions such as buyer at Berry Bros & Rudd, fine wine manager at Direct Wines, and director roles at Bancroft Wines and Jascots.
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