【Robert Parker: One of my favorite estates and reference points for Chateauneuf du Pape】
【The pioneer in organic & Biodynanic farming in 1989】
【The roots of Domaine de Marcoux dated back year 1000 , one of longest history in Chateauneuf du pape】
【Jeb Dunnuck 91】【Vinous 91】【Robert Parker 90】【Vivino 4.0】
ZTF492B Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape 1998
Special Price：$730/bottle
Production area/grade: France/ Rhone/ Chateauneuf du pape
Grape varieties: Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache
Alcohol: 14.5%
THE FAMILY
In the county archives in Avignon, there is a register dating from 1344. It lists all those who must pay a tax to their master: the Bishop of Avignon. Even back then, the name Armani features five times. Their forenames? Pierre, Raymond, Bernard, Isnard and Durant. The Armani name would evolve over time, becoming Armanie, then Armanier and finally Armenier. These spellings are found in the municipal and family archives.We can assert, without complete certainty, that these five Armenier families, who were settled in Châteauneuf in 1344 and already owned some property, had already been there a long time… We can even dare to dream, and suggest that the Armeniers were there when the village was founded – and why not!
What is certain, though, is that we are one of the oldest families in the village.
The same is true on our mother’s side. Jacqueline Coulon, our mother, is also descended from an old Châteauneuf bloodline, the Jouffron family: the oldest document in our possession, a marriage deed, is dated 4 November 1691. And so, through the generations, our estate has been unravelled and reassembled with each wedding and inheritance…
ORGANIC CULTIVATION
Another story began in 1991 when the estate embraced organic cultivation. We have since been monitored by ECOCERT: our certification is for organic cultivation, but we make every effort to apply biodynamic preparations (corn manure, silica, manure compost, teas, and so on). It was a shrewd step: year after year, our wines are able to express all the riches of an outstanding terroir.
Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape
WINEMAKING: The grapes are picked by hand;ripeness varies between varieties and districts. They are first sorted at the vine, then transferred quickly to the cellar in 50 kg crates. Once in the cellar, the crop passes onto the sorting table; then is destemmed, crushed and cooled. No yeast is added; we only work with native yeasts. During alcoholic fermentation, we control the temperature and perform daily pumping-over.Maceration lasts 4-5 weeks. The wine is matured for about 18 months, chiefly in concrete vats and several foudres or 350-litre barrels.
CULTIVATION METHOD: Organic (ECOCERT certified)
GRAPES: The varietal proportions vary from year to year, but are generally: 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 7% Syrah and 3% Cinsault.
TERROIR: Quartzite pebbles, clays, reds and stone, colluvium, Cretaceous limestone of the Barremian age.
【Jeb Dunnuck 91】
Possessing a darker slant to its fruit than the Vieilles Vignes, the 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape gives up beautiful blackberry, ground pepper, cured meats and underbrush to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple, mouth-filling texture. It too is fully mature, yet it still has plenty of mid-palate flesh, sweet tannin and a pure, balanced profile that will keep it evolving gracefully.
【Vinous 91】
Very good deep red. jammy aromas of surmaturite: raspberry liqueur, cherry cough syruproasted game, roast coffee and mocha. Large-scaled and impressive on the attack, then richvery concentrated and mouthfilling in the middle. Big, thick and layered; a bit unrefined nextto the '99 normale, but at the same time more traditional and less exaggerated-morecrunchythan the extravagant '98 Vieilles Vignes. Big, spreading tannins coat the front teeth.
【Robert Parker 90】
The 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape's peppery, plum, cherry liqueur, and cassis-scented nose is followed by opulent, long, open-knit flavors crammed with glycerin and alcohol. The high levels of richness and glycerin obscure much of the wine's structure and tannin. This sexy, voluptuously-textured, creamy 1998 should drink gorgeously for 10-15+ years.
