Le petit Vin d'Avril NV

Alcohol : 13,5%

Grape(s) : Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

Localisation : Clos des Papes, Côtes du Rhône, France

Tasting Notes : This wine shows a deep, rich purple robe in the glass with distinct aromas of wild berries, herbs and spices, bitter almond, cloves and star anise. Smooth on the palate and of fine structure. Bewitching to the finish.

91 Points James Suckling : Starts off earthy with chestnuts, then turns to fruit with nuttiness, such as walnuts. Dark fruits like blackberries and raspberries. Has purity, with a slightly austere texture and tension. Changes in the glass and turns almost smokey. A non-vintage red from the great Chateauneuf producer of Clos des Papes.

The Domain : The Avril family has been making wine at Clos de Papes since the 18th century. Paul-Vincent was trained at wine school in Dijon, as was his father. This training and philosophy in Burgundy is evident in their philosophy towards winemaking in Châteauneuf-du-Pape- the wines of the appellation are able to attain richness, power and age-ability, the Avirl’s also want to achieve finesse and balance. Today, the property has 32 hectares, of which 3 hectares are the white varieties. There are twenty four different parcels spread around the town which allows for the various terroirs play-ing a role in the expression of the wine. They practice strict selection of 50+ year old vines and have some of the lowest yields in the appellation. The Avril’s also practice destemming, which they have been doing since 1991. The wine is vinified in ceramic-lined vats and spends a year in large, old foudres.