2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin

"It's impossible to argue that 2007 is not a great vintage," said Marc Perrin. "It has to be considered one of the greatest in modern times." Perrin noted that the Indian summer of '07 (like '09, by the way) ensured fully mature mourvedre, "which enhanced the lushness of the grenache." He also noted that the tannins of the '07s "are very fine and in harmony with the fruit, and don't show the hardness that we see in the 2005s." Incidentally, the Perrin family is now the owner of the cozy restaurant L'Oustalet, in the heart of the tiny, picturesque village of Gigondas, and they have already begun assembling an impressive and sometimes very reasonably priced wine list. This is great news for visitors to the region who have been compelled to make a drive to Avignon for a special meal after exhausting the handful of fine-dining options available in the immediate area. (Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL)

Marc Perrin prefers his 2007s to the 2005s because he believes they are a perfect expression of typicity and character. "The tannins are more integrated, while the 2005s will have to stay buried for a long time to loosen up," he told me. The 2007s, he thinks, "will age like the 2005s, but they will always be attractive, even on release, which is completely unlike the '05s. It might sound like hype but we think that 2007 is the best vintage ever at Beaucastel. I know that I'm not the only one around here who is saying that. " Perrin is afraid that 2006 will get lost between '05 and '07. "The wines are suave and sweet, classic expressions of Provence and wonderfully elegant. Their balance will enable them to age for a long time but you won't get the drama of '05 and '07, which is just fine with me. " (Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL)