James Molesworth

James Molesworth har i marts 2006 besøgt og fortæller i artiklen om nogle topproducenter: Henri Bonneau, Beaucastel, Vieux Télégraphe, Clos des Papes, Janasse, Font de Michelle og La Nerthe.

I et afsnit kaldt "Nine wineries to Watch" omtaler han La Bastide Saint Dominique, Domaine Ferrand, Domaine de la Cote de l'Ange, Vieille Julienne, Cuvée du Vatican, Font de Michelle, Péres de l'Eglise, Pierre Usseglio og Le Vieux Donjon.
"... here are nine more domaines worth seeking out. Each is contributing to Châteauneuf-du-Pape's increasing status as a source og unique, high quality wines."

En side af artiklen viser oversigt de højst ratede wine i Wine Spectator fra top producenterne (kommentarer til vinene er udeladt):

Vin	Score	Pris US$
Domaine du Pégau Cuvée da Capo 2003	99	270
Henri Bonneau Cuvée Speciale 1998	98	345
Clos des Papes 2003	97	68
Domaine de Beaurenard Boisrenard 2003	97	75
Domaine du Pégau Cuvée Reserve 2003	97	70
Henri Bonneau Reserve des Celestins 1999	96	225
Chapoutier Barbe Rac 2003	96	85
Domaine Charvin 2003	96	65
Domaine de la Janasse 2003	96	100
Domaine St.-Prefert Collection Charles Giraud 2003	96	62
Chateau de Beaucastel White Vieilles Vignes 2003	95	150
Cuvée de Vatican Sixtine Reserve 2003	95	55
Domaine de Marcoux Vieilles Vignes 2003	95	150
Roger Sabon Prestige 2003	95	65
Pierre Usseglio Cuvée de mon Aîeul 2003	95	79
Paul Autard Cuvée La Cote Ronde 2003	94	60
Chateau de Beaucastel 2003	94	90
Chateau de Beaucastel White 2003	94	90
Domaine Bois de Boursan Cuvée des Felix 2003	94	80
Clos du Mont Olivet La Cuvée Papet 2003	94	60
Domaine du Beaurenard 2003	94	45
Domaine de la Janasse Chaupin 2003	94	55
Domaine Grand Veneur Les Origines 2003	94	40
Henri Bonneau Cuvée Marie Beurrier 1999	93	145
Clos du Mont Olivet 2003	93	33
Domaine du Beaurenard White Boisrenard 2003	93	75
Domaine Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet 2003	93	68
Chateau Rayas 2003	93	140
Roger Sabon Rèserve 2003	93	50
Pierre Usseglio Réserve des Deux Frères 2003	93	220
Les Vins de Vienne Les Otéliées 2003	93	49
Le Vieux Donjon 2003	93	45
Domaine de Vieux TélégrapheLa Crau 2003	93	45

Artiklen indeholder også årgangsvurderinger for det sydlige Rhone for en række relevante årgange:

Årg.	Point	Bemærkninger	Klar?
2005	96-99	Third straight year of drought, with well-timed rain and mistral. Great concentration, purity and structure. Should rival 1998 and 1990	NYR
2004	92-95	Another dry year, but not as hot as 2003. Small crop of balanced and pure wines; more concistent than '03	NYR
2003	93	Very hot, dry vintage produced a crop of powerfull, ripe reds. Rugged tannins will need time, but best are superb; can be inconsistend though	Hold
2002	76	Tart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest. Many producers declassified their crop.	Not recommended
2001	92	Great vintages of racy, structured reds in Chateauneuf du Pape.	Drink or hold
2000	94	Powerful and rich; plump and ripe reds with silky tannins	Drink or hold
1999	90	Syrah- and Mourvèdre-based wines offer lovely balance and length. Grenache-based wines less succesful.	Drink
1998	97	Dense and rich; superb Grenache harvest led to blockbuster reds with ripe tannins.	Drink or hold
1997	81	Soft, easy erly-drinking wines	Drink
1996	80	Light, fruity, pleasant, early-drinking reds; some excellent whites.	Drink
1995	90	Many tough, tannic reds, but Chateauneufs are improving beautifully; rich whites	Drink or hold
1994	86	Less consistent than Northern appellations; mature now	Drink
1990	95	Massive wines with great concentration	Drink or hold
1989	96	Hot year of medium size; powerful, concentrated reds now hittig their prime	Drink or hold
1988	90	Dry and temperate year, with some powerful, tannic wines	Drink

Bemærkning (Søren Gudiksen):
Når man om årgang 2002 siger, at mange deklasserede vinene, så må det bero på en misforståelse. Det man gjorde var, at man solgte hele eller dele af produktionen til negociants. Jeg er ikke stødt på Cotes du Rhone eller Vin du Pays fra årgang 2002, som er deklasseret, men det kan da være sket i mindre omfang. Sagen var, at der var flere penge i at sælge en chateauneuf til en negociant end i at aftappe og markedsføre en Cotes du Rhone eller Vin du Pays.

Det kan måske være interessant - til sammenligning - at se, hvordan Robert Parker rater årgangene:

I artiklen henvises til en adresse på nettet, hvor James Molsworth på en video diskuterer vine fra marker med rullesten versus marker med sand. De to domæner, der omtales er Domaine St.-Prefert og Domaine du Pegau:
Videoen kan ses her: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Free/Video_Player/0,4306,33_wmv,00.html

Da Molesworth fortæller Henri Bonneau, at han er i Chateauneuf i to uger for at lære noget om appelationen svarer Bonneau:
"Two weeks? That's nice, I have been here for 68 years and I still don't understand it."

"I am lucky my father and I like the same wines. We have always agreed on any changes I have made. But at many domaines, the new generation cannot do anything until the older generation has retired"
- Paul-Vincent Avril, Clos des Papes.

"Things are rather simple here. In Bordeaux, wealthy people went there to make wine. Here, the people are farmers, and they were born here."
-Mark Perrin, Chateau de Beaucastel.

"My father agrees with almost everything I do but when I do a green harvest I tell him: Stay in the truck. You don't want to see this."
-Christophe Sabon Domaine de la Janasse

"Ten years ago, there was no succes here. I hope we don't forget that."
-Christophe Sabon Domaine de la Janasse

	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990	1989
RP		90	90	58	96	98	90	98	82	82	90	86	85	78	65	95	94
WS	96-99	92-95	93	76	92	94	90	97	81	80	90	86				95	96