2014 Chateauneuf du Pape

The classy, elegant 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape has terrific purity as well as medium-bodied richness, loads of strawberry and framboise fruit, flowers and spice aromas and flavors; it has a ready to go, expansive, pleasure bent style. The blend in 2014 is 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, aged in a combination of demi-muids, concrete tanks and tronconique tanks. It should drink nicely through 2024.

(aged in a combination of concrete tanks and old foudres and barriques ): Brilliant ruby-red. High-pitched, mineral-laced red and dark berry and potpourri scents are complemented by notes of anise and Asian spices. Silky and open-knit on entry, offering sweet raspberry and lavender pastille flavors that tighten up slowly with air and pick up a subtle, exotic blood orange nuance. Shows wonderful clarity and lift on the impressively long finish, which is given shape by silky tannins.

80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and Cinsault. Mid crimson. More intense than their Lirac, darker fruited and a spicy cherry sweetness. Juicy fruit backed up by firm but rounded tannins. Satisfying and then just fresh enough on the finish. (JH)