2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Val de Dieu

Vivid purple. Sexy, heady scents of candied red fruits, potpourri and incense, with a spicy topnote and a hint of vanilla. Lush and expansive, offering pliant red fruit preserve flavors that take on weight with air. Supple tannins build on an extremely long, sweet, mineral-driven finish. Very suave for the vintage, with surprising upfront appeal but with the depth and power to age.

Even better, and eclipsing the spectacular ’07, the 2010 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Val de Dieu is a blend of 58% tank aged Grenache, and equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre aged all in demi-muids. Sporting off the chart aromas of black fruits, graphite, licorice, singed leather, and toasted spice, this full-bodied, massive wine has a layered, seamless, and weightless texture, incredible richness, and serious concentration and backend structure. Despite the overall size here, this beauty has nothing out of place and remains oh so drinkable. It is superb now, yet will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age, and have upwards of two decades or overall longevity. Gorgeous stuff!

(a 50/50 blend of grenache and mourvedre): Bright violet. Intensely perfumed, expansive bouquet evokes raspberry preserves, potpourri and Asian spices. Sweet, palate-staining red fruit flavors show impressive power but also a light touch thanks to zesty minerality. The spicy note repeats on the very long, clinging finish. (Unfortunately, the Amiral G 2010, which is made from 100% grenache, was really out of sorts when I tasted it in November. I'll try it again next time, from bottle.)