From yields in range of 15 hectoliter per hectare, the 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of the 2008 and reveals a healthy ruby color to go with the classic kirsch, dried flowers and spice notes that I always find in Avril’s wines. Showing an almost Pinot Noir-like texture with medium to full-bodied richness, sweet tannin and outstanding length, it will certainly be one of the more approachable, forward wines from this estate, and it should be a low to mid-nineties scoring effort. As I commented in my recent retrospective article, Clos des Pape is one of the reference point estates for traditional, age-worthy Châteauneuf du Pape. 92-94 points