Updated: Aug 10, 2023
This tasting note was recorded briefly in a walkover tasting with Xavier Vignon in a sun-drenched tasting wine room in Wanchai in April 2023. Surprisingly, 1972 still got the cool and fresh fruit- ample tannins tamed still with bite. Rare. On Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2000 is an enjoyable, harmonious piece of bending- natural fruit, balanced, textured, fine tannins, structured, intense, balanced, and good length. 2001 is superior to 2000 and different- showing the class what a stunning vintage could be-there is a greater concentration of flavour, ripeness and uniqueness of character.
All wines score, impressively, 96DD points.
This 100 per cent Grenache was sourced from 15 parcels spread across the Châteauneuf-Du-Pape appellation and produced uniquely; After the wine was put in a new French oak barrel, the entire barrel was then submerged into a concrete tank filled with Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine. This submerged ageing process is Xavier Vignon's interpretation of the underwater ageing process that some people experiment with, and the result is that there's no exposure to oxygen whatsoever. The wine was kept like this for five years, with no racking or topping required since there's no evaporation.
96+ Points, Wine Advocate
This method needs to be more documented. Parker admitted that he requested more explanation from Xavier Vignon, writing, "Regarding the 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Arcane Le Pape, I had to have Xavier explain how he made it about three times before I understood. The wine is 100% Grenache, from 15 different parcels that were put into a barrel, then the entire barrel was put into a concrete tank, which was then filled with wine. This is a take on the underwater ageing process that some people experiment with, resulting in no exposure to oxygen whatsoever. The wine was kept like this for five years, with no racking or topping (since there's no evaporation, it never needed to be topped). Inky purple, with a sensational youthful bouquet of crushed flowers, blueberries, blackberries, cured meats and spice, hits the palate with incredible richness, a thick, unctuous mid-palate and ripe yet present tannin. It's a singular, exotic beauty that I wish every reader could taste! I do not know how it will age, given its crazy elevate, yet I suspect it will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two to three decades! Hats to the team here for having the guts to pull something like this off!"(Edited).
96 Points, James Sucking
JS writes not in details, saying "Some age here. This has a vibrant, ripe, complex feel with a sleek, supple stream of deeply fleshy, ripe dark-plum and berry flavours. The tannins are so regal. Wow!"(Edited)
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
"A 100% Grenache sourced from numerous terroirs in the appellation, the 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arcane Le Pape offers a lovely bouquet of blackberries, saddle leather, garrigue, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and silky, it's still tight and backwards on the palate, with good acidity, building tannin, and a great finish. It will hit prime time in 2-3 years and keep for a decade."(Edited)
Bright, pale lemon. Lifted of citrus and stone fruits. The palate has white flesh stone fruit and citrus characters with a light acid background finishing with a refined balance. Decent length, lightish with excellent structure, and is simple and easy to drink. DD88; Viino 3.1/5; not bad at all. 13% ABV.
We see the super-value quality, but we don’t get why at this ridiculous price! Indeed Gotham Wines is a negoce; hence they will give some price advantage as they will have some economies of scale. No reputable scores! That is, in this case, a good thing!
Wine Men of Gotham is the fully nurtured baby of Gotham. The Wine Men of Gotham is a homage to the Wise Men of Gotham, an allusion to the reputed simplicity of the villagers of Gotham, England. If tradition is to be believed, the Gothamites were not very simple but simply wise enough to play the fool; in various ways, they merely acted silly to gain their ends. Wine Men of Gotham reflects the sincerity of the lovable fools of Gotham. Parker et al. write, “Started in 2004 by husband and wife team Bruce Clugston and Fiona White, Gotham has since been consistently forging great value wines from well-chosen vineyard sites offered at sometimes unbelievable price points for the quality.”
