Parker hails 2007 Rhone vintage as "vintage of a lifetime"

The highly influential US wine critic was in the region this past autumn to taste the 2007 vintage - his conclusions: this was a stellar vintage, a "vintage of a lifetime": "Throughout the southern Rhone, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region…Nearly every producer has attained largely unprecedented levels of quality." The wines contain an "aromatic dimension and freshness that I have rarely witnessed" combined with "super depth of fruit!". There has been some speculation that Parker's huge market influence could precipitate a Bordeaux style hyper-inflation in prices - it would be a shame if it were the case as Parker himself once stated in his seminal 1985 book on the Rhone, the region offers: ""the greatest quality/price ratio of any top red wine region in the world". Here are some of the scores achieved by the top wines at Chateauneuf du Pape, all of these special cuvees:
Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina (98-100)
Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous (98-100)
Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin (98-100)
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape (98-100)
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo (98-100)
Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Deux Freres (98-100)
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes (98-100)
Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 97+
Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac (96-100)
Domaine Roger Sabon Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon (96-100)
Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul (96-99)
Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de la Reine des Bois (96-97+) Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (96-98)
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin (95-99)
Paul Autard Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Juline (95-97)
Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire (95-97)
Domaine du Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve le Clos du Caillou (95-98) Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 95
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (95-98)
Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (95-97+)

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