"Very deeply coloured; Intense youthful nose of licorice tinged black berried fruits and spice, some medicinal Provence herbs too - very impressive for a CdR, almost Vacqueyras like. Dense and powerful; very weighty and dense on the palate though not overblown just really intense and concentrated with good freshness - quite youthful, this could go on for many years yet. Reasonable length - at the top of the tree at this level. (AI)"
Robert Parker: "A moderately-sized estate for Chateauneuf du Pape (just under 44 acres), this is always a benchmark for the quality of any given vintage thanks to the energetic and very talented proprietor, Andre Brunel. The brilliant M. Brunel, and before him, his father, have done conscientious work in Chateauneuf du Pape for many years. Shrewd consumers have long flocked to Andre Brunel’s Cotes du Rhones as they are loaded with personality and quality. Moreover, they sell for a fraction of the price of his Chateauneuf du Papes. The Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Sommelongue is a 6,000-case cuvee from a vineyard near Orange, just to the north of Chateauneuf du Pape, based on 85% Grenache. It is always an excellent wine, much in the style of his Chateauneuf du Papes, with plenty of strawberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some soy, balsam wood, pepper, and spice.”
